Michael J. Fox, whose turn from Parkinsons disease patient to scientific crusader made him one of the countrys most visible advocates for stem cell research, now believes the controversial therapy may not ultimately yield a cure for his disease, he told ABCs Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview.
There have been problems along the way, Fox said of stem cell studies, for which he has long advocated. Instead, he said, new drug therapies are showing real promise and are closer today to providing a cure for Parkinsons disease, a degenerative illness that over time causes the body to become rigid and the brain to shut down.
Stem cells are an avenue of research that weve pursued and continue to pursue but its part of a broad portfolio of things that we look at. There have been some issues with stem cells, some problems along the way, said Fox, who suffers from the diseases telltale tics and tremors.
Its not so much that [stem cell research has] diminished in its prospects for breakthroughs as much as its the other avenues of research have grown and multiplied and become as much or more promising. So, an answer may come from stem cell research but its more than likely to come from another area, he said.
Tune in to World News with Diane Sawyer Friday at 6:30 p.m. E.T. to see more of Diane Sawyers interview with Michael J. Fox
Fox, who recently appeared in episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Good Wife, has dedicated himself to finding a cure for Parkinsons, the disease with which he was diagnosed in 1991.
Fox said he still strongly believes in stem cell research and government support of those studies, praising ongoing research at New Yorks Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital. When asked about earlier criticism he received from conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh about his advocacy, Fox said it only sharpens your resolve.
Scientists are conducting research and looking for a cure on multiple fronts, Fox said, including drug therapies, experimental surgeries, and developing tests to help make earlier diagnoses.
To that end, his Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, the largest private funder of Parkinsons disease research worldwide, has recently launched an online initiative to increase studies across the country by pairing patients with clinical trials in their areas.
The Fox Trial Finder(Visit FoxTrialFinder.org for more info on clinical trial participation) harnesses the power of the Internet to find patients and, based on their profile of symptoms, pair them with research scientists conducting clinical trials.
Visit link:
Michael J. Fox Looks Past Stem Cells