The U.S. House has approved $3 million in funding for the Wake Forest University Health Sciences alternatives to transplantation program, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th, announced.
The funding was included in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
“These funds will support the life-changing research being done right now at Wake Forest,” Foxx said. “The experts at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine are engaged in pioneering tissue research that may soon provide an alternative to organ transplantation that will change the face of modern medicine.”
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine does groundbreaking research into the use of autologous tissues as an alternative to transplantation or reconstructive surgery. Autologous tissues are derived from the patient’s own cells and are capable of correcting numerous medical problems. Institute for Regenerative Medicine researchers conducted the first human application of cell-based tissue engineering.
“We are very excited to receive this funding and are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Foxx for her invaluable help throughout the process,” said Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the institute.
Atala gained increased notoriety earlier this year when he announced the regenerative potential of stem cells drawn from amniotic fluid. He said that such cells are easier to grow than human embryonic stem cells, and are not prone to growing certain tumors like embryonic cells do. His findings were cited as proof by pro-life activists that embryonic stem-cell research, in which embryos are destroyed to harvest cells, is unnecessary. Atala, in a later letter to Congress, clarified the importance of all forms of stem-cell research.
“This funding will allow us to move forward and develop energy efficient processes to create engineered tissues and organs,” Atala said. “This is truly groundbreaking research, and will have a major positive impact on our healthcare system for the millions of Americans with conditions that require transplantation.”
Foxx, in announcing the grant, said that more than 80 researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine are working to apply regenerative medicine techniques to build new organs and tissues such as kidneys, blood vessels, hearts, livers, pancreases, muscles, and nerves.
“Wake Forest is on the cutting edge of regenerative medicine,” she said, “and I am pleased that this funding will support their continued research and allow them to upgrade their facilities to take advantage of new technology.”
The House passed both bills by wide margins and both are now before the Senate for consideration.