How California Became the Center of the Stem Cell Universe - And Why That Matters to You
When Don Reed's son Roman was paralyzed in a college football game, the two began a 21 year quest for cure-- not just for paralysis, but for all forms of "incurable" disease. Joining with Bob Klein, father of a diabetic son, the Reeds helped pass Proposition 71, the California Stem Cells for Research and Cures Act. What happened next was a quiet triumph, step-by-step progress toward the cure of diseases which have plagued mankind for millennia.
Palo Alto, CA, November 25, 2015 --(PR.com)-- In the midst of a state-wide recession, a small group of patient advocates fought for three billion dollars in stem cell research funding-- and won. Award-winning author Don C. Reed's new book, "Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond," tells the up-close and personal story of the struggles of the California stem cell agency, and the breakthroughs that came from it: step by step progress against cancer, AIDS, blindness, heart disease and more, conditions bringing pain to our families and devastation to the economy. One in three Americans has a chronic disease http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/prevention.htm. Last year, such "incurable" diseases cost America $2.3 trillion dollars http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-c-reed/diseaseaweek-challenge-1-_b_7455178.html -- more than all federal income taxes combined. http://www.usgovernmentrevenue.com/fed_revenue_2014US And the suffering? Incalculable.
When Don Reed's son Roman was paralyzed in a college football accident, a father-son quest for cure began. The Reeds helped pass laws to raise money for research and to protect scientists' freedom to research with stem cells, including he Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999. Then came Proposition 71, Bob Klein's $3 billion initiative. The Stem Cells for Research and Cures Act was an uphill battle -- but California would not be denied.
And when the program actually began? Some predicted that not even one therapy would survive the rigorous FDA testing procedures all the way to human trials. But today, 28 stem cell-derived therapies are in various stages of human clinical trials, including: Diabetes: a credit card-sized device which may replace the insulin cells from a diabetic's non-functioning pancreas; Paralysis: an injection of stem cells to reduce the wound and save function; Cancer: a way to help the body's own immune system fight back; blindness: rebuilding the retina at the back of the eye -- and more.
"...warm, optimistic, determined...Stem Cell Battles is a prime example of how a small group of people can bring about significant change for many...valuable for that reason alone, but the human stories Reed included makes it more so."--J.G.Stinson, FOREWORD Reviews (5 hearts).
A former professional scuba diver, Don C. Reed has won numerous awards for teaching, advocacy and writing: including Teacher of the Year, the U.S. House of Representatives Community Service Award, and the Educational Press Association of America Award.
"Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond: How Ordinary People Can Fight Back Against the Crushing Burden of Chronic Disease--with a Posthumous Foreword by Christopher Reeve" will be widely available December 16th. Intended for a general audience, "Battles" is 432 pages long, has color illustrations throughout, indexed, and available in hardcover, softbound and e-book formats. May be ordered through Amazon.com
Contact: Don C. Reed, (650) 812-1011, diverdonreed@gmail.com, http://www.stemcellbattles.net
When Don Reed's son Roman was paralyzed in a college football accident, a father-son quest for cure began. The Reeds helped pass laws to raise money for research and to protect scientists' freedom to research with stem cells, including he Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999. Then came Proposition 71, Bob Klein's $3 billion initiative. The Stem Cells for Research and Cures Act was an uphill battle -- but California would not be denied.
And when the program actually began? Some predicted that not even one therapy would survive the rigorous FDA testing procedures all the way to human trials. But today, 28 stem cell-derived therapies are in various stages of human clinical trials, including: Diabetes: a credit card-sized device which may replace the insulin cells from a diabetic's non-functioning pancreas; Paralysis: an injection of stem cells to reduce the wound and save function; Cancer: a way to help the body's own immune system fight back; blindness: rebuilding the retina at the back of the eye -- and more.
"...warm, optimistic, determined...Stem Cell Battles is a prime example of how a small group of people can bring about significant change for many...valuable for that reason alone, but the human stories Reed included makes it more so."--J.G.Stinson, FOREWORD Reviews (5 hearts).
A former professional scuba diver, Don C. Reed has won numerous awards for teaching, advocacy and writing: including Teacher of the Year, the U.S. House of Representatives Community Service Award, and the Educational Press Association of America Award.
"Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond: How Ordinary People Can Fight Back Against the Crushing Burden of Chronic Disease--with a Posthumous Foreword by Christopher Reeve" will be widely available December 16th. Intended for a general audience, "Battles" is 432 pages long, has color illustrations throughout, indexed, and available in hardcover, softbound and e-book formats. May be ordered through Amazon.com
Contact: Don C. Reed, (650) 812-1011, diverdonreed@gmail.com, http://www.stemcellbattles.net
Contact
Don C. Reed
650-812-1011
www.stemcellbattles.net
650-812-1011
www.stemcellbattles.net
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Cover of Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger shakes hands with Roman Reed in support of the California stem cell program, accompanied by Bob Klein who began Prop 71 and Don Reed who wrote about it.
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