Patients' lives are more important than embryos. I do want to avoid the use of embryos if possible.
— Shinya Yamanaka
Researchers should always consider ethical concerns on scientific research and disclose their data to the public. Scientists also need to discuss issues surrounding their research with those who are concerned.
When I saw the embryo, I suddenly realized there was such a small difference between it and my daughters. I thought, we can't keep destroying embryos for our research. There must be another way.
My goals over the decade include to develop new drugs to treat intractable diseases by using iPS cell technology and to conduct clinical trials using it on a few patients with Parkinson's diseases, diabetes or blood diseases.
I think that the discoveries of antibiotics and vaccines have contributed to the improvement of the quality of life, making it possible to prevent contagious diseases.
IPS cells can become a powerful tool to develop new drugs to cure intractable diseases because they can be made from patients' somatic cells.
There is no way now to get around some use of embryos. But my goal is to avoid using them.
I think that in the 21st century, medical biology will advance at a more rapid pace than before.
I like the freedom of research. Plus, if I fail in science, I know I can always survive because I have an M.D. This has been my insurance policy.
I grew so depressed from the lack of support that I considered quitting. No one understood me.
