MU researchers may have found a solution to the long debate over stem cell research.

R. Michael Roberts and his assistant Toshihiko Ezashi found a way to create human stem cells from pig tissue. By using pig tissue, scientists are able to avoid the controversy that usually surrounds human stem cell research. Scientists are able to simulate human stem cells, so there is no use of human embryos and no cloning.    

Researchers take tissue from pigs, called fibroblasts and inject them with four "reprogramming" genes. The genes make the fibroblasts think they are stem cells. By reprogramming the tissue, the fibroblasts take on many of the same properties of a human stem cell.

The methods and technology used in this study have been used before, but only on mice and human cells. This is the first time pigs were used in stem cell research.

"What we did was not all that innovative," Roberts said. "I have to stress that people have done this in the mouse, and they have done it with human cells, but no one had ever done it with a pig before."

Although fellow scientists are calling his findings "Nobel-Prize worthy," Roberts remains humble.

"It is possibly important technology, but it's one that is based on older technology that has been used elsewhere," Roberts said. "I think the other thing to realize is that this was a team effort."

The next step in their research would be to start testing on actual pigs, and not just the animal's tissue. They will be able to determine if cells can be implanted into the pigs without causing negative medical effects. But, the lab is still waiting on funding issues to be resolved.

Roberts says further testing is very expensive and he and his team will need a "significant" grant in order to continue their research. He estimates that his lab will need a grant for at least $300,000 every year. Roberts and fellow researchers are currently applying for grants.