Respect Life director supports state's new umbilical cord blood bank

Arkansas law could increase treatment options with stem cells

Published: August 11, 2007

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Malea Hargett

Dr. Michele Fox (left) of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences gives Marianne Linane a tour of the room where the frozen stem cells are stored in cryopreservation tanks.

Malea Hargett

Dr. Michele Fox (left) of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences gives Marianne Linane a tour of the room where the frozen stem cells are stored in cryopreservation tanks.

The diocesan Respect Life director is hopeful the creation of a Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Bank in Arkansas will spur on more ethical research and treatment with adult stem cells.

At the invitation of Rep. Jon Woods of Springdale, Marianne Linane and her secretary, Kathleen McNespey, toured the labs July 25 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock where stem cells are already being used to treat people with cancer and other diseases.

Woods, a member of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, was the main sponsor in the House of Representatives for this year's General Assembly to create the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative, one of the first in the country. Woods' bill was overwhelmingly supported by other senators and representatives and Dr. Michele Fox, the director of cell therapy and transfusion medicine at UAMS.

Linane said the initiative is supported by the Diocese of Little Rock as well because it promotes using non-embryonic stem cells for medical cures. The Catholic Church opposes embryonic stem-cell research because living human embryos are destroyed in the process of extracting the stem cells.

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "The Church opposes the direct destruction of innocent human life for any purpose, including research."

"This is not morally or ethically controversial," Fox said of the new law. "This is the child's first gift to the rest of the world."

While there is a national cord blood bank, the Arkansas cord blood bank is still in its early stages, Fox and Woods said. By June 2008 an 11-person commission will be named with Fox as a nonvoting consultant. One of the commission's tasks is to put together a budget and promote the creation of the cord blood bank, which will likely be located at UAMS.

In 2009 or later, pregnant women in the state will be asked by their obstetrician if they wish to voluntarily donate the blood from their newborns' umbilical cords to the blood bank. After being properly extracted, the stem cells would be sent to the main bank to be frozen and stored.

Participating hospitals could then use the stem cells in their treatment of patients with various cancers, such as leukemia, Parkinson's Disease, spinal cord injuries, auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and several other blood, liver and bladder diseases. UAMS is world renowned for its stem cell treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer.

Currently, cord blood is not collected on a routine basis in Arkansas because hospitals and doctors are not trained in the proper collecting methods and there is not a public cord blood bank, Fox said. Private businesses will store cord blood for a fee of $1,800 to $2,000.

The new Arkansas law notes that more than 100 million Americans "suffer from diseases that may eventually be treated more effectively or even cured with stem cells."

Linane, a registered nurse who is currently earning her master's degree in bioethics, said she would like to see more treatments developed because of the state's new blood bank.

She praised Woods' bill because "it takes the focus off of embryonic stem cells." Most national news stories highlight the push for state or federal funding for stem-cell research using embryos, but more advancements are being made every day with adult stem cells, Linane said.

To date, 73 diseases and injuries have responded positively to treatment with stem cells from bone marrow, adult tissues, umbilical cord blood and other sources, according to the Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. No diseases have been cured yet using embryonic stem cells.

"We need to be investing in adult stem-cell research. That is the only thing that is producing results." Linane said.

Fox agreed.

"Embryonic stem cells are the possible hope for the future," she said. "Adult stem cells and cord blood cells are now. ... I hate wasting time arguing (about embryonic stem cells) when I can be working now. I don't want to waste time debating. I'm 60 years old."

Linane acknowledged that there needs to be lot more education done in the Catholic Church about stem-cell research. The Catholic Church is supportive of research and treatment that is done ethically, but most media coverage focuses only on one type of stem cell.

"They (Catholics) need to know that embryonic (stem cells) are little beings that we don't need to be messing around with. We are experimenting on little human beings. They are becoming the lab rats of the 21st century.

"It is not illegal to do research on embryonic stem cells. What is illegal is using federal money for it. There are some private companies doing it."

A nurse for 44 years before joining the Diocese of Little Rock in 2006, Linane said she believes most hospitals and new parents would be supportive of donating newborns' cord blood.

"Donating cord blood so it can be used by someone else is a much better idea than doing nothing with it," Linane said. "You aren't going to be taking it home and saving it."

Woods said in 2009 he would introduce legislation to fund the cord blood program. Starting in 2008 residents can donate money to the initiative through their state income tax form.

Woods, who is in his first term and is the youngest representative at the Capitol, said he was inspired to introduce the bill after hearing stories of celebrities and family members who needed stem cells in their treatment of diseases or injuries. Woods' father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis two years ago.

"I just said enough is enough," he said. "What all does it matter (introducing bills about mundane city issues)? What really matters? When you have a family member or friend who is dying and you can't help them, we (Arkansas General Assembly) have to take a role in saving lives."