title: Social Responsibility in Stem Cell Research - Is the News All Bad?
abstract: Transparent public discourse about translational stem cell research promotes informed hope about scientific progress and the sustainable development of biotechnologies. Using an a priori coding scheme, we surveyed articles from leading news media about stem cell interventions for neurodegenerative diseases (1991-2014) from United States (n = 83), Canada (n = 29), and United Kingdom (n = 65). While, this analysis of translational contexts in the news demonstrates a lingering tendency to celebrate the benefits of research with little context of its caveats even for chronic neurologic diseases, in a departure from many previous studies, the data also reveal conscientious reporting about stem cell tourism and timeframe estimates for the development of relevant therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Koerner S124, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benjaminy
authors.affiliation: National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Koerner S124, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Koerner S124, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada. jilles@mail.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illes
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D012941:Social Responsibility; D057905:Stem Cell Research; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
keywords: Clinical translation; Neurodegeneration; Science communication; Social responsibility; Stem cells
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