University of Georgia Professor Asserts that Stem Cells Will Help National Security

Steve Stice, a University of Georgia professor, has dedicated the majority of his research using embryonic stem cells curing degenerative diseases and debilitating injuries.^[1] His most recent discovery, which produces billions of neural cells from a few stem cells, could now aid in national security.^[2] “It's like a canary-in-a-coal-mine scenario,” said Stice.^[3]

In collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Stice hopes to use his recently developed neural cell kits to detect chemical threats.^[4] “They have a device that looks like a small tool box that contains neural cells and can detect changes in their electrical activity….when these cells’ activity is altered, you know there's something present that shouldn't be and they don't like it.” Stice said.^[5]

The system now being used in the monitoring device uses mouse neural cells. “The problem is….mouse neural cells die out pretty fast on their own. So if you tried sending this device out with the troops, somebody has to change out the cells every couple of weeks. Plus, mice aren't humans. They react very differently to chemicals than we do,” Stice said.^[6]

Stice's neural cell kits created from human embryonic stem cell lines last up to six months. “We've never tested to see how far beyond that they're viable, it could be much longer…[but this project] huge implications for Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.”^[7] Stice explained the device by saying that “the monitoring system records electrical activity in the neural cells, which are usually in a set, rhythmic pattern, [however] when faced with a chemical agent….the electrical activity is reduced quite a bit, and the signals are erratic….the computer [then] interprets the neural cell signals and indicates a problem,” he said.^[8]

The current system can detect an agent but it can't identify it, however it may be possible to further develop the system so that for some chemicals there are signatures that will lead a rapid identification of exactly what the chemical is.^[9] Stice asserts that, “noncell systems available now can detect specified chemicals….but this is a broader detection system that will be more valuable because we don't know what terrorists will hit us with.”^[10]

Stice feels this detection system will be extremely important to troops and civilians, because there is always a concern for nerve agents and unintentional effects of warfare when troops are exposed to chemical agents. “The beauty of this system is that it will detect a wide range of chemical agents, and the speed that they're detected is the beauty of these cells,” he asserted.^[11]

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^[1] Science Daily Staff, New Use For Stem Cells Found In War On Terrorism, Science Daily, September 25, 2007, available at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070925130000.htm (last visited September 25, 2007).
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