An American university scientist was arrested on 27
December, accused of supplying stem cells for use in unapproved therapies.
The US Department of Justice
says Vincent Dammai, a researcher at the Medical University of South Carolina
(MUSC) in Charleston, supplied the stem cells without the approval of his
university or of the US Food and Drug Administration.
Two other men, Francisco
Morales of Brownsville, Texas, and Alberto Ramon, of Del Rio, Texas, were also
arrested this week as part of the case.
A fourth man, Lawrence Stowe of Dallas,
Texas, has been charged and a warrant is out for his arrest, according to an
FBI press release.
Many academic scientists have
spoken out against unproven stem cell therapies (see Stem-cell scientists
grapple with clinic). However, a 2011 opinion paper by Zubin Master, of the
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and David Resnik, of the US National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, contends that many private stem cell clinics rely on scientists in
the field who unknowingly supply cell lines, growth media and other reagents
needed to harness stem cells.
Master believes this is the
first case in the US where a researcher has been charged with supplying stem
cell clinics. He contends that
”responsible scientists can curb illegitimate stem cell tourism by evaluating and
sharing stem cells and other reagents only with those who intend to use them
appropriately.”
In the case, the FBI release
says: “Morales and the others
manufactured, distributed and used stem cells produced from umbilical cord
blood to perform procedures not approved by the FDA to treat persons suffering
from cancer, amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS) and
other autoimmune diseases.”
According to a 19-page
indictment unsealed this week, Ramon, a licensed midwife, obtained umbilical
cord blood from mothers who had given birth. He then sold the blood to a
Scottsdale, Arizona company called Global Laboratories, whose owner was
convicted in August of selling unauthorized stem cell products across state
lines (see Texas prepares to fight for stem cells). Global Laboratories sent
the tissue to Dammai, who used university facilities to derive cord blood stem
cells and then sent the cells back to Global.
The indictment says that
Morales falsely claimed he was a doctor, touting the benefits of stem cell
treatments to patients. He would then travel to Mexico to perform stem cell
procedures. Morales, Dammai and the other defendants made more than $1.5
million from patients, according to the FBI release.
According to his university web
page, Dammai has been an assistant professor at MUSC since 2007. He was the
principal investigator on a $1.4 million, five-year R01 grant from the National
Cancer Institute to study the cellular basis of renal cell carcinoma that ended
this year.
Dammai could not be reached for
comment. A spokeswoman for MUSC, Heather M. Woolwine, indicated in a written
statement that Dammai has been placed on administrative leave, pending
resolution of the case. The university did not know about stem cell work
alleged in the indictment, and it has cooperated in the federal investigation.
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