Every summer we welcome student bloggers to engage with topics in stem cell and regenerative medicine. Recently, we mentored two inquisitive high school students from Great Valley High School on their Government and Economics independent research project.
We are proud of your hard work!
Rhea Elena Sullivan
By: Siena Bevilacqua and Serena Rutherford
As Great Valley High School students, our exposure to in-depth cellular biology is minimal. When we were presented with the opportunity to explore a topic of our choice in our Government & Economics class, we jumped on the chance to explore more about stem cells and stem cell research. We had the privilege of talking with Dr. Irina Elcheva and graduate student Rhea Sullivan of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Program at Penn State, which gave us new insight into the field of stem cell research. Our approach involved looking at the role of the government in stem cell research and its implications.
“We finished our presentations and even made cookies that looked like cells for our class. We enjoyed learning more about stem cell research and thank you for giving us that opportunity.”
Before meeting with Dr. Irina Elcheva and Rhea Sullivan, we began to review legislative action that may have impacted stem cell therapies and the continuation of research. During Congress’ 117th session in 2021, Congress opened hearings on the subject of regenerative medicine and stem cells. The outcome of the Committee hearings affirmed congressional support for the growth and development of stem cell research in medicine; however, a concern was raised with the number of unapproved clinics and their potential risks.
We assumed the main concerns of regulation were solely focused on embryonic stem cell research and the controversy surrounding the use of human embryos or cells derived from them. After our interview, we held a greater appreciation for these concerns and what they meant. Dr. Elcheva and Rhea Sullivan opened our eyes to a new side of stem cell research, of which we were unaware. They introduced us to the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and how they have changed research over the years. They also mentioned that “governmental regulation” should have a positive connotation. They explained sound public policy and oversight needs to occur to ensure safe treatments and ethical research.
As we studied the executive branch, we found mostly inconsistent support for stem cell research. As Dr. Elcheva mentioned, former President George W. Bush’s administration had banned stem cell research. This meant that funding during the Bush administration had to come privately or from the scientific community. The Biden administration has lifted some restrictive policies on stem cell research put in place by the Trump administration; and, enabled funding from the National Institute of Health and other entities to continue, and further scientific developments.
While we focused on the influence of the government, stem cell research and science in general holds a dear place in our hearts. We are excited to learn that the current trend and policy is positively supporting stem cell research and its future applications and expansion as a tool for the medical, scientific, and health communities. We are truly grateful for being able to talk with Dr. Elcheva and Ms. Sullivan, who allowed us to expand our understanding of the stem cell research field and gain new appreciation. It is surprising to find that something so microscopic can have such a notable impact on our society.