¦ October 17, 2005
Two New Stem Cell Discoveries Excite Schmidt
Quadriplegic race car owner urges Senate, Presidential action

HENDERSON, Nev. – For a quadriplegic race car driver looking for a chance to not just walk but to drive again, Sam Schmidt is elated over the latest news regarding new techniques in the use of stem cells in scientific research to repair spinal cord injuries.

The New York Times reported Sunday that researchers have devised two new techniques designed to alleviate ethical concerns in the use of stem cells.

“These discoveries take most of the concerns of those opposed to embryonic stem cell research off the table,” said Schmidt, a winning race car driver in the Indy Racing League who is now a car owner.

“As the research continues with stem cells, scientists are constantly finding new methods to help with everything from spinal cord injuries to Alzheimer’s, and a whole range of other afflictions,” he said. “These latest discoveries are hopefully another way of taking the ethical concerns off the table and helping scientists find these cures.”

In one of the new discoveries, the stem cells are derived without the need to destroy an embryo, the principal objection of those opposing federal financing of the research. The other technique makes skin cells revert to the embryonic state in a way that prevents the embryo from implanting in the uterus. The Times reported from an online edition of Nature.

“We know strong feelings exist from a number of standpoints but this research is simply too important to millions of people to lag behind,” said Schmidt. “Hopefully, the discovery of these new techniques will enable scientists to continue this critical work.

“We hope, too, the U.S. Senate will realize the importance of these discoveries, and will pass the bill the U.S. House of Representatives has sent them to federally fund stem cell research,” added Schmidt, who will be in Washington, D.C., next week to discuss this and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act with key Senators and Congressmen.

“Our feeling has always been with enough research, stem cells could be used to help those with spinal cord injuries, as well as other nerve related disorders,” said Schmidt, founder of the international Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (www.samschmidt.org).

“This is additional proof that we need more research in this area, and we need the funding that can only come from the federal government,” Schmidt said.

Less than a month ago, The Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences described a procedure in which human stem cells were injected into mice with severe spinal cord injuries. The mice regained much of their ability to walk normally after receiving the injections.

“With these bills in front of the U. S. Senate right now, one that would greatly increase federal funding of this research, we could take these discoveries, as well as others over the past few years, and cure someone like myself,” Schmidt said. “Exhibiting these kinds of scientific breakthroughs, it shows stem cell research holds an incredible amount of possibilities for many diseases and afflictions.”

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is one of the major forces promoting passage of the bill currently in the U.S. Senate that would increase federal funding of stem cell research. The bill is expected to come up within the next few weeks. It extends funding to research on embryonic stem cell lines that were not in existence in 2001, when an executive order limiting such research was issued.

“We need these bills passed by the U.S. Senate, and we strongly encourage President Bush to reconsider and sign them into law,” Schmidt said. “We don’t want him to look at the politics of all of this as much as we encourage him to look into the eyes of the millions of people whose lives will be greatly improved by this research. We would like him to look into the eyes of children who have diseases that could be cured, and to look into the eyes of the families who are watching loved ones suffer from Alzheimer’s or ALS or Parkinson’s.

Schmidt of Las Vegas, Nev., is founder of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (www.samschmidt.org), which helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. This research also benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF also addresses quality of life issues benefiting people with paralysis and other disabilities through its Day At The Races program, and works tirelessly promoting advocacy concerns.

The 41-year-old was injured during a race car driving car in testing at Orlando, Fla., in January, 2000. A winning driver in the IRL circuit, Schmidt formed Sam Schmidt Motorsports, which fielded the #70 entry of driver Richie Hearn in this year’s Indianapolis 500. He also owns three full-time entries in the IRL’s developmental Menards Infiniti Pro Series, which runs this week at Watkins Glen, N.Y. The team, currently second in the championship points battle, dominated the 2004 series championship with nine poles and six race victories.