Proposal to Extend Spinal Cord Research Funding Introduced

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Spinal cord injuries are among the most debilitating, often rendering sufferers immobile or without the use of their extremities. The Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 2005 was created to fund spinal cord injury research at the University of California and is currently up for renewal.

Assembly member Alberto Torrico of the California Assembly Health Committee seeks to continue funding this research for an additional five years. He hopes that by promoting the exchange of ideas as well as the search for new treatment options, medical professionals will one day be able to conquer spinal cord injuries.

There are numerous theories about the treatment of spinal cord damage, including the potential value of stem cells for this purpose. According to the MedicalNewsToday.com, stem cell treatments have been used successfully to treat spinal cord injuries in rats, which lends many researchers to believe that human embryonic stem cells may also be beneficial for human treatment.

Of course, stem cell research is extremely controversial, which may have a negative impact on Torrico's desire to continue funding research at UC. If the public is concerned about the ethical aspects of using stem cell research, there is a possibility that the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act will indeed expire.

The act is named after football player Roman Reed, who suffered a spinal cord injuryinvolving crushed vertebrae.

Thus far, the act has funded "more than 120 research projects," resulting in a tremendous aggregation of research data and potentially useful information. Thousands of Americans suffer from spinal cord injuries, and the lack of viable treatment options concerns medical professionals the world over.