By JASON WITZ

Staff Report

A local doctor will be a featured speaker at a stem cell awareness conference in Denver next month.

But for ophthalmologist David Klein, the June 13 trip is more of a fact-finding mission.

Klein accepted the invite in hopes of learning more about the role of bone marrow stem cells, and whether they could be utilized in conjunction with umbilical stem cell treatments. During the visit, he plans to visit a facility in Colorado that specializes in using adult stem cells for joint and bone pain.

“We’re trying to determine if there is any commonality,” Klein said.

Locally, Klein has worked with patients who have undergone umbilical stem cell infusions to treat legal blindness. The Denver event will include testimony from individuals who had similar procedures, along with stem cell advocates.

Klein, however, remains unconvinced stem cells can cure genetic diseases, although he believes the United States should relax research restrictions that currently force people to seek help overseas.

“I’m still cautiously optimistic about stem cell treatments,” he said. “It’s not a magic bullet, but at the same time, I think it’s helping some people.”

Klein was scheduled to visit one of the top stem cell facilities in China earlier this month, but the trip was canceled. Instead, he recently met with a representative of the Chinese facility, a scientist who happens to own a house in Southwest Florida.

Representatives from Stem Cells China and Beike Biotech — treatment facilities in China — are expected to attend the Denver conference.

E-mail: jwitz@sun-herald.com

Source: Sun Newspaper