Al Gore is set to head a venture capital foray into the very promising field of induced pluripotent stem cell research. From the story :
Former vice president Al Gore is entering the stem cell arena with an announcement today of a $20 million biotech venture in the hot area of “induced pluripotent” stem cells. Induced cells are attracting interest from researchers and biotech firms as an alternative to embryonic stem cells. Induced cells are made by inserting four genes into ordinary skin cells, and they offer a new path for “regenerative” medical treatments.
“I just think it’s a very important breakthrough that is filled with promise and hope,” says Gore, a partner with the venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, which is backing the research. “I think this is one of those good news stories that comes along every once in a while.”
Too bad President Obama doesn’t see it the same way : He revoked President Bush’s executive order requiring that the promising area of “alternatives” to ESC research, such as IPSCs, receive federal funding.
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