[Next-Generation Sequencing Book]
  • [Photo] J.W. Bizzaro • August 18, 2001
    ``As they carry out President Bush's plan for government financing of embryonic stem cell studies, federal health officials confront a daunting challenge: U.S. patent 6,200,806, a claim to the human embryonic stem cell.

    ``The patent, held by the University of Wisconsin, is apparently the only one of its kind. It leaves the university in such a powerful position that next week the health officials will begin negotiating with it in hopes of reaching an agreement that will allow federally financed scientists access to the valuable cells.

    ``Managed by a research foundation on behalf of the university, the patent gives Wisconsin officials control over who may work in the United States with stem cells, and for what purpose. In turn, the foundation has granted rights to a biotechnology company, Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., giving that company considerable say over who ultimately profits from stem cell therapies.''

    Full story:
    http://www.charlotte.com/observer/natwor/docs/stemcells0817.htm

    Reference by Slashdot.org.

    This article demonstrates several problems with the status quo: how academic institutions have been behaving like their commercial counterparts regarding intellectual property, how all scientists are affected by these patents (not just those in companies), and how absurd the patent system is to have allowed a patent on a human cell. Perhaps I should patent the neuron!

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