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Researchers skeptical of foreign treatment: American experts want more scientific proof from Dr. William Rader about his methods.(York Daily Record (PA) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 24--READ MORE: SAVING SHAWNA -- A search for hope Since 1995, more than 1,000 patients have spent up to $30,000 for stem cell treatments with Dr. William Rader, a Malibu, Calif., psychiatrist. His Web site, www.medra.com, said that since 1995, he successfully treated patients with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease and AIDS at his Caribbean clinics. U.S. researchers said his claims can't be believed until he follows the rules of scientific medicine and publishes his research. Fia Richmond is the founder of Children's Neurobiological Solutions Foundation, a California-based nonprofit that funds U.S. stem cell research. In 1999, she took her son Palmer, then 4, to Rader's Bahamas clinic for treatment for a brain injury he's had since birth. Instead of seeing improvement, Richmond said, he had an increased number of seizures. "(Rader) wasn't a neurologist," she said. "He wasn't able to assist me." It's been almost 10 years and Palmer still doesn't walk or talk. Dr. Chi Van Dang, vice dean of research at Johns Hopkins University, oversees the Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering. He said it's unfortunate, but there are doctors who exploit the desperation of patients and their families. He said he doesn't know enough about Rader to comment specifically on him. Dang said he hopes these doctors have the answers to cure man's most devastating diseases, but he hasn't seen any scientific proof. Richmond said Rader refuses to work with scientists to prove his work. "If it's working," she said, "he should work to make it available for everyone in this country and abroad." Dang said, optimistically, the U.S. is still a few years away from getting FDA approval to put stem cell treatments into clinical trials. Using animal models, Dang said, the university researchers are at the early stages of understanding the cells. Dealing with the spine and brain is sensitive work, he said. Rader didn't return phone calls for comment. But his Web site says the treatment is harmless. In a video posted on the site, he said, "In reality, I don't do anything. And the reason I am saying that is all I do is put in the cells and then, nature, God, whatever you want to say takes care of the rest. I don't tell them where to go, I don't give them a diagnosis," he said. His pitch brings parents from all over the world to relieve their children's suffering, even though Richmond and others in the medical community discourage it. "The majority of parents will still go, because they are at the end of their ropes," she said. "I feel like sometimes it doesn't matter what I say." [email protected]; 771-2101 CONCEPT TO CONSUMER The process to get a procedure or drug approved for consumer use is long and involved. Whoever develops the idea will typically seek to register and file for patent protection. During the research process, scientists subject their findings to peer review in medical literature. Animal models are used for testing to get all the details correct. Then the method must go through three phases of human clinical trials before it will be approved by the FDA. A final clinical trial is done after the method is released. In the U.S., embryonic stem cell therapies are still in the animal model phase, but many researchers are seeking FDA approval to begin human clinical trials. In May, the FDA postponed the first clinical trial using embryonic stem cells, stating that the first trials would have to meet rigorous standards. ON THE WEB Children's Neurobiological Solutions Foundation: www.cnsfoundation.org Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering: www.hopkins-ice.org William Rader's site: www.medra.com A stem cell clinic in Eastern Europe: www.emcell.com To see more of the York Daily Record, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ydr.com. Copyright (c) 2008, York Daily Record, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |