DoD establishes institute tasked with regrowing body parts

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]

[Ignatius @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:08PM]

And here comes the idiots opposing stem cell research...

I hope they get their fingers shot off and have to type with their nose.

[Josh @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:14PM]

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)

[LaughingMan @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:19PM]

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.

[Shockage @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:31PM]

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

[morcheeba @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:33PM]

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.

[Wwhat @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:57PM]

Windows has disability support, it's called 'sticky keys'.
Press F1 for more info if you use windows.

[eMAx @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:09PM]

"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.....

[looseinthedeuce @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:36PM]

So long as reptilian DNA is not used, we should be ok

[OneLove @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:10PM]

Here come the mutants!

[Alex @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:32PM]

Tyrannosaurus what?!

[Philster @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:42PM]

Don't MAKE me slap you with my third hand!

[RoboDan @ Apr 22nd 2008 6:20PM]

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...

[Grimm @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:13AM]

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.

[Jnetty @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:09PM]

I thought Stem Cell was a no-no for the Bush Administration?
I'm all for it.

[matt @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:11PM]

that would be embryonic stem cell

[Dude @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:22PM]

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.

[Jnetty @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:43AM]

oh wow, thank you for clarifying the different Stem Cell research.

[John @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:11PM]

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?

[LaughingMan @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:13PM]

Both.

[Tonbo @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:47PM]

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.

[Adam @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:46PM]

@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.

[Tonbo @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:05PM]

@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.

[Nightmare @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:59PM]

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

[Dude @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:14PM]

I saw this movie. It wasn't that good.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:33PM]

I read Engadget. I can't eat my snack anymore.

[buzzbean @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:16PM]

$250 million over five years is really nothing for the Department of Defense. The war in Iraq costs over $300 million a day.

[Zill @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:16PM]

Someone in the DoD took A Planet Called Treason too seriously.

[RadicalxEdward @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:17PM]

There's gotta be one researcher their somewhere who developed a set of boobs or a penis or something on a mouse.

[Ian @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:14PM]

Have you guys seen my penis? where did it go!?

[Zeek @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:18PM]

Maybe they should pick up a copy of World War Z for $8, read it, and then drop the whole fucking thing.

[Chris Anderson @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:18PM]

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.

[Neal @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:20PM]

haha, this is EXACTLY what came to my mind when is saw this too!

[Dan Davis @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:37PM]

Damn... beat me to it!

A "normal" Garrison FTW!

[Eric M. @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:19PM]

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

[ddub @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:32PM]

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.

[ddub @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:33PM]

LOL. I didn't even notice the comment above saying the same thing.

[devin.lieberman @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:39PM]

did you notice the mouse with an ear in the picture - that was in south park

[Dekstar @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:30PM]

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

[EricR @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:35PM]

At least it isn't INFIRM

[Ian @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:16PM]

from now on i nominate you to come up with clever acronyms

[Alex @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:36PM]

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)

[aytunc @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:41PM]

Alex,
I hate to break it to you but,

ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System, not automatic

[Nick Stropko @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:34PM]

"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....

[Evil Closet Monkey @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:35PM]

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

[bi0hazard @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:02PM]

Noses?

[Aguiluz @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:27PM]

@biohazard

Well, at least the soldiers can keep their fingers busy. XD

[Jason Coleman @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:37PM]

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.

[Tonbo @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:45PM]

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.

[alexmueller @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:56PM]

hmm... not going to war is also cheaper and more effective.

[Zach @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:44AM]

Yeah, tell that to diabetics, industrial accidentees and those born with birth defects.