PCC Receives $1.7 Million Grant for Stem Cell Research
Bodhi Baker
Posted on: 3/19/09 Section: News
PCC President Paulette Perfumo highlighted the campus' acquisition of a grant - the only one of its kind - to conduct stem cell research in Wednesday's Flex Day opening ceremony.
The grant comes shortly after President Barack Obama's recent executive order to allow greater federal funding of research on embryonic stem cells.
The majority of PCC biology instructors contacted by the Courier support the president's action.
"Last week PCC was awarded a grant for $1.7 million to do stem cell training for people, including PCC students, who will be gainfully employed in this area in the coming decade," said Russell E. Di Fiori, biology instructor. He also said PCC is the only community college in the state to receive such a grant.
PCC has been a pioneer in stem cell training and technology for the last four years, according to officials.
The issue of federal funding is particularly relevant while private funds are drying up in the current economy. Di Fiori believes that increased research and development in the area of embryonic stem cells will stimulate California's economy.
Teresa Trendler, biology instructor, is also in support. "I am glad our new president has decided to let scientists work! I feel the prior administration was at fault for interfering with research just to placate a right-wing constituency," Trendler said.
Not everyone agreed, however. "The media plays on people's emotions by emphasizing the use of embryonic stem cells," said Joe Conner, biology instructor. He claims that embryonic stem cells have never produced any therapeutic results and that any successes so far have come from adult stem cells.
"It makes more sense to use adult stem cells for a number of reasons," said Conner. "For example, they come out of the patient's own body and therefore the immune system doesn't reject them, which is a problem with embryonic stem cells."
Furthermore, Conner said scientists have developed a way to regenerate cells from your skin into embryonic stem cells.
The grant comes shortly after President Barack Obama's recent executive order to allow greater federal funding of research on embryonic stem cells.
The majority of PCC biology instructors contacted by the Courier support the president's action.
"Last week PCC was awarded a grant for $1.7 million to do stem cell training for people, including PCC students, who will be gainfully employed in this area in the coming decade," said Russell E. Di Fiori, biology instructor. He also said PCC is the only community college in the state to receive such a grant.
PCC has been a pioneer in stem cell training and technology for the last four years, according to officials.
The issue of federal funding is particularly relevant while private funds are drying up in the current economy. Di Fiori believes that increased research and development in the area of embryonic stem cells will stimulate California's economy.
Teresa Trendler, biology instructor, is also in support. "I am glad our new president has decided to let scientists work! I feel the prior administration was at fault for interfering with research just to placate a right-wing constituency," Trendler said.
Not everyone agreed, however. "The media plays on people's emotions by emphasizing the use of embryonic stem cells," said Joe Conner, biology instructor. He claims that embryonic stem cells have never produced any therapeutic results and that any successes so far have come from adult stem cells.
"It makes more sense to use adult stem cells for a number of reasons," said Conner. "For example, they come out of the patient's own body and therefore the immune system doesn't reject them, which is a problem with embryonic stem cells."
Furthermore, Conner said scientists have developed a way to regenerate cells from your skin into embryonic stem cells.
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