Action steps for chronic disease health advocacy and education organizations

What action can your health advocacy organization take right now to ensure your service constituency’s cell-based health care needs and rights are protected during the early stages of stem cell research and development?

Begin educating your membership about stem cell research and cell-based medications and other therapies? Begin to advocate in order for your members or constituent group to have a seat at the table when and wherever stem cell policy issues are discussed. Advocacy should occur at every stage of the stem cell research, translational, clinical trial and product development stages.

1. Advocate for stem cell collections with genetically diverse sources of cell lines

2. Collaborate with stem cell regenerative medicine and biotech centers

3. Ensure that public funding for stem cell research includes a revenue and/or health care benefit or payback.

4. Advocate for and participate in open stakeholder stem cell discussions and forums

5. Represent your membership on all stem cell oversight and advisory funding bodies.

6. Seek a variety of stem cell research funding sources including both the private and public sector.

7. Attend and/or testify at legislative stem cell committee hearings.

8. Advocate for alternative fair and equitable financial/business intellectual property models.

9. Advocate for the efficacy and safety of all stem cell research and clinical trials.

10. Encourage alternative licensing, product development and public funding models to promote fair, broad and affordable access to stem cell based diagnostics and therapies.

11. Offer educational resources and information on stem cell research and applications.

12. Offer education opportunities for stem cell donors and recipients.

13. Provide public education on stem cell efficacy and safety risks factors. (For additional advocacy and educational resources see my blog: danecountyalmanac.blogspot.com.