DoD establishes institute tasked with regrowing body parts
By Donald Melanson 
posted Apr 22nd 2008 4:04PM
posted Apr 22nd 2008 4:04PM
Apparently not satisfied with simply building robotic body parts, the Department of Defense has now announced a brand new effort that it hopes will one day allow it to regrow actual body parts. Dubbed the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (or AFIRM), the new group will explore the use of stem cell research, among other things, to "reconstruct new skin, muscles and tendons, and even ears, noses and fingers." Or, as the Army surgeon general that'll be overseeing the program puts it: if an animal like a salamander can regrow a lost tail or limb, "Why can't a mammal do the same thing?" Not surprisingly, the institute apparently also won't be hard up for resources, with it boasting a budget of about $250 million for its first five-year period, and it enlisting the help of three universities, including Rutgers, Wake Forest, and the University of Pittsburgh.
[Via Slashdot]
[Via Slashdot]
And here comes the idiots opposing stem cell research...
I hope they get their fingers shot off and have to type with their nose.
I don't think they mentioned what type of stem cells they're planning on using. It was just a broad statement. Like all sciences, we are certainly not bound by one type of research or method. So, your comment seems to be a bit of an instigation, rather than a useful contribution. But what do I know?
(answer: not much)
Josh... you make a good point about science not bounded by one method or research, however, in a purely political move, the government cut funding for embryonic stem cell, nearly torpedoing any research by starving those projects of federal funds.
Private funding of stuff like embryonic stem cell research isn't enough. On this issue alone, the government is meddling with the way science can work, throwing up roadblocks to progress.
what about this?
It was in the news just a few weeks ago...University of Pittsburgh FTW
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/22/sunday/main3960219.shtml
BigBirdUK - guess most of the mods missed the fact that you typed that with your nose. However, I'm impressed you managed to type an exclamation mark. I've got a few theories on how you did that, but in none of those cases I'd want to use your keyboard you'd typed that.
Windows has disability support, it's called 'sticky keys'.
Press F1 for more info if you use windows.
"if an animal like a salamander can regrow a lost tail or limb, "Why can't a mammal do the same thing?""
Yeah, thats what Dr. Connors said, why don't you ask spider man if he is happy about those genetic experiments.....
So long as reptilian DNA is not used, we should be ok
Here come the mutants!
Tyrannosaurus what?!
Don't MAKE me slap you with my third hand!
That statement was made out of the worst kind of ignorance.
Duh, an animal that has four legs can do it, so why can't we? Duh...
Actually, the real reason why we can't regrow limbs like a salamander is because of evolution. When salamanders are wounded everything at the site reverts to their undifferentiated states forming a blastema. It's like the cells going back in time and retrace the steps to assemble a new limb or organ. The reason why we probably can't is that the rapid cell division required to create a new limb looks to the body a lot like the unchecked growth of cancer. Amphibians have short life spans vs. humans who have long life spans. Our bodies have evolved to try to protect against DNA mutations and keep tumors at bay. This is why we don't have the regenerative abilities of a salamander.
I thought Stem Cell was a no-no for the Bush Administration?
I'm all for it.
that would be embryonic stem cell
Like Matt said, the Bush Administration only opposed Government funding for embryonic stem cells. Research on adult stem cells, which have actually produced results, is readily available.
Private companies can do research on embryonic stem cells if they wish, but the tax payers are not going to foot the bill for it.
oh wow, thank you for clarifying the different Stem Cell research.
The 'idiots' opposing stem cell research are usually people against embryonic stem cell research, which hasnt cured anything despite private financing and funding for it. Adult stem cell research has a long list of over 70 under its belt. Which one would you fund if it were your money?
Both.
I'm going to have to pull out a B.S. card on this bit of propaganda. Adult stem cells have had success in some very specific cases, but "under clinical investigation" does not equate to "cure."
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/316/5830/1422b
Science follows the money. If there is no money in embryonic research, there will be no advances in that field. Simple.
Science has had a powerful effect in elevating humanity and allowing concepts of equality and democracy to flourish due to our greatly extended life span. The more money in science the better.
@Tonbo: I think you should get your facts straight. A bone marrow transplant in a cancer patient uses Adult Stem Cells and CURES cancer in cases where it is effective.
@Adam
Hematopoetic stem cell transplants have been around since the 50s and don't play into the embryogenic vs. differentiated stem cell debate. Current directions in stem cell therapy hope to do a lot more than simply swap marrow.
Hey I have a brilliant idea! We dont need the homeless and they serve no evolutionary purpose, lets kill them to benefit the future of our utopian society, and use their body parts, since they serve no purpose. Absurd,
isn't it? There is more than one way to skin a cat if you do not belive in embryonic stem cell research, they have other methods. but I do ever so enjoy the debate. the fact however, remains the same, if it is controversial, other methods should be used. One must not go to a debate and foolishly decide there are no two ways about it.
all I ask is use common sense, if others don't like it and you believe it should be done just because others don't like it, guess what... YOU ARE AN ASS... if i beleve in killing bums for the betterment of our society and that offends you, and I don't give a shit what does that make me???
case-in-point
I saw this movie. It wasn't that good.
I read Engadget. I can't eat my snack anymore.
$250 million over five years is really nothing for the Department of Defense. The war in Iraq costs over $300 million a day.
There's gotta be one researcher their somewhere who developed a set of boobs or a penis or something on a mouse.
Have you guys seen my penis? where did it go!?
Someone in the DoD took A Planet Called Treason too seriously.
Maybe they should pick up a copy of World War Z for $8, read it, and then drop the whole fucking thing.
I just saw an episode of South Park kinda like this....except they were using mice to re-grow the organs. And the organ was a penis.
haha, this is EXACTLY what came to my mind when is saw this too!
Damn... beat me to it!
A "normal" Garrison FTW!
Anyone else think of the South Park episode from a couple weeks ago that Mr. Harrison tries to grow a penis on a rat? Haha
Dude.. I was just in the middle of writing the same comment when I noticed yours. LOL
I think thats where they got the idea.
LOL. I didn't even notice the comment above saying the same thing.
did you notice the mouse with an ear in the picture - that was in south park
AFIRM? What a terrible acronym. How about something based on the subject, like REGROW -- Regenerative Experiments: Growing Removed Organs. Wicked!
Or HEAL -- Helping Everyone Acquire Limbs
At least it isn't INFIRM
from now on i nominate you to come up with clever acronyms
Acronyms are supposed to save poeple time, right?
Why does everybody insist on typing the letters, then in brackets showing what they stand for. It would have een quicker to just type the normal thing on it's own.
Example:
"I'm changing the ABS* in my car..."
(*Automatic Braking Sytem)
Alex,
I hate to break it to you but,
ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System, not automatic
"enlisting the help of three universities, including Rutgers, Wake Forest, and the University of Pittsburgh."
They used including there incorrectly--using including means that there are more, but they said earlier that there are only three universities.
Just thought I'd point that out....
Something is going to go horribly wrong and we're going to have a bunch of soldiers running around with 4 nipples, 3 testicles and 2 of everything we should only have one of! o_O
Noses?
@biohazard
Well, at least the soldiers can keep their fingers busy. XD
There was an excellent talk at TED a couple of years ago by Alan Russell about this exact kind of research: "Why can't we grow new body parts?"
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/142
Just thought some people might be interested.
I'm going to have to pull out a B.S. card on this bit of propaganda. Adult stem cells have had success in some very specific cases, but "under clinical investigation" does not equate to "cure."
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/316/5830/1422b
Science follows the money. If there is no money in embryonic research, there will be no advances in that field. Simple.
Science has had a powerful effect in elevating humanity and allowing concepts of equality and democracy to flourish due to our greatly extended life span. The more money in science the better.
T-VIRUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
hmm... not going to war is also cheaper and more effective.
Yeah, tell that to diabetics, industrial accidentees and those born with birth defects.
"If you see my penis run by here, try to catch it with some cheese!"
IF this comes to light, anyone else see this as a reality:
"Truth or Dare"
"Dare"
"I dare you to cut off your left arm"
I wonder how much John Bobbit wished this was true
Mammals can already do this. For example fetuses can regenerate.
Regeneration is not that far fetched but I reckon needs about $20 billion in focussed basic research funding. And then another $20 billion to get it from the lab to us.
Here's an idea, how about we not get these kids body parts shot off in the first place? Did y'a think of that?
Yes, I know this can help people with accidents, deformities and people already harmed by war. I just get pissed off at the idea that the DoD is going to use this to redeploy the kids after they get them patched up.
Anybody who's played ResEvil4 on Pro Mode will instinctively cringe at the mention of regenerate/regrow LOL
weapon X is coming
hey! maybe I'll get my foreskin back after all!!
I'm just sorta semi-creeped out by the photo in the lower right hand corner of that guy's presentation. What the hell is that? Looks like a dead guy all bloated out and pulled from the river. Jeeeezus. Is that a bullet hole in his neck? That's some full-on Morrrre Braaaiinns action there... Some underwater Uncle Fester.
That's how half the people in the hospital fresh from iraq look.
As long as they can re-grow my hands when I get arthritis and, should I ever need it, my penis, I'll be happy.
Should I ever need my penis replacing* Not "Should I ever need my penis"... D:
great so at last we can eat meat without killing animals, and also lower the CO2 emissions required to build the product.
I don't see a singe problem with this. Nothing but good can come of this...I don't see how people can think otherwise unless your a f*cking idiot!
Imagine how much funding would be poured into this if scientists announced they will start research with penis enlargements.
I read somewhere, and watched a video on CBS News about the same idea... and it already works!! Why they want the 250 millions when a man already knows how to regenrate bodies??
Something smells bad....
Or, i didn't get the video well... i'm from Southamerica... and sorry if something isn't writted ok.
Is anyone else thinking of casshern?
That's right--throw soldiers onto the battlefield where they get ground up (especially when you're dealing with an army or an administration too cheap or uncaring to spring for adequate armor), patch them up, then throw them right back onto the battlefield with their new parts installed. Like you'd do with a robot. I wonder if the DoD will require soldiers to go for another tour of duty if they want to have their broken parts replaced by DoD doctors?
No harm in dreaming about the future. We would be happier if pentagon would care more about the large number of vet suicides. By pentagons own numbers suicide deaths are greater than deaths by hostile fire http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/22/MNQK109AA7.DTL.
Pentagon is glad with a reduction of people that might be critical of wars obviously, it's the maimed idiots that lament that they so much want to go back that they want to regrow.
At last. In future wars soldiers won't even worry when they get their leg blasted off. They'll just splatter on some GrowGel RG410-A2 grade three limb gel on their bloody stump and *poit* - a brand new leg!
Robert Becker, spent time as Vets. Admin. researcher funded to figure out how to regrow arms and legs on veterans. Later wrote 2 books on the effects of EMFs on biological organisms. Critters who can regenerate have more nerve system distributed throughout body. As nerve system get concentrated in spine and head, critters lose ability to regenerate so readily. Removing sciatic nerve with myelin sheath from one leg, put in other leg, heal, cut off leg, pretty good regrowth in critter that does not naturally regenerate. Without myelin sheath the regeneration unsuccessful. Myelin sheaths alternate layers of lipid and protein with the long chain protein as a very sophisticated super-conductor... as i recall, transferring info related to growth and healing much faster than nerves. Became lawyer. Names those responsible for funding cuts.