I wrote on another blog that I'm surprised that more stem cell research doesn't go on in Mexico and Central America. I know that Mexico in particular is currently a certain security risk, which is an important factor. I also don't know what kinds of resources the less-developed countries (Guatemala, maybe) have in terms of infrastructure to support a modern lab (electricity and water), so maybe that's an issue. I also don't know what costs are like in a more stable, developed country like Costa Rica and whether they're not low enough to set up facilities there.

In any case, the reason I'm writing about this here is because I've thought on and off that if I made some absurd amount in a lottery win (above 100 million), something I'd like to try is setting up a stem cell research facility in Latin America to offer people (Americans, really) some alternatives in terms of devastating illnesses that might be "untreatable" by doctors in the U.S. Experimental treatments, essentially. And now that stem cells can be harvested from bone marrow and many other sources, I think it's plausible to think that more research can be done in more places, more easily.

One reason I most want to do this is because the news about stem cells in this country has been frustrating to me. Ten years ago, there was a study that seemed to indicate that stem cells would eliminate juvenile or Type I diabetes. Then nothing. The most recent thing that I've heard is that cells take from a cadaver can be injected into a diabetes sufferer and get them off insulin. So what's going on with this? Is it working or not? Are they still doing trials with people or not?

Another field I'm interested in - in terms of stem cells - is dentistry. Again, there was talk about it 8 to 10 years ago and since then, nothing (that I know of). Maybe there's a discussion going on within the community but I don't think there's anything coming up in the larger culture. Or maybe I'm missing it. But it's another field where I'd like to sponsor research (if I can) because I think it could make huge difference to so many people.