Interview with Dr. Gurtner in full

Is forthcoming....I am still working out the glitches, but stay tuned

Resources

What websites should we include in our resources section? Where can people learn more about stem cells or research being done in this area? How about information on what a liver does and why we need one? What are some communities online that are available for families with a member on the transplant list or who is suffering from liver disease?

stem cell basics?

http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/the-basics-of-stem-cells/

heres some information to educate the masses!

Initial Discussion Questions

On Monday, we are interviewing Dr. Geoffrey Gurtner, Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Stanford University. He is trying to use stem cells to grow replacement livers for people with liver failure. He has partnered with a biotech start-up company to eventually market them.

He also is working on using stem cells to regenerate skin. He and his colleagues have applied for a grant from the Department of Defense to fund applying stem cell dressings to soldiers coming back from Iraq. One of his concepts is to harvest the soldiers' stem cells before they go into battle. If a soldier were to experience major skin trauma, the stem cells could be used to minimize scarring.

We'd like to get people's reactions as we develop this story. Any initial thoughts? Here are a few questions to hopefully get the discussion started:

Gurtner is using fetal stem cells... how do you feel about this?

Would this story affect you personally? Do you know someone with liver failure who could benefit from this research?

How do you feel about human beings growing an organ? Is this crossing some ethical line?

Alcoholics who abuse their liver could benefit from a new one. Should they receive one? Can they handle the responsibility? Can they have as many as they like?

Should Gurtner market this? How much should a liver go for?

Is there anything wrong with soldiers having their stem cells on reserve? If there was a program to donate your stem cells for them to use, would you donate?

a cool website we should look at!

i saw this this sunday night and was really excited about some of the possibilities it explores, not only in it's content, but its multi media aspects as well. what really drew my attention to this site was a story someone linked to me, the story you can find at this link:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

but the main site is simply:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/

please check it out and let me know, i think its a very cool "thing"

kyle

So we begin...

This blog will follow a group of three reporters in their attempt to cover one story over the next seven weeks. We invite feedback from all interested parties.