Saturday, June 25, 2011

Dr. Denise Faustman

I know nothing about science and its practitioners. Personal circumstances have led me to read and learn about type 1 diabetes research for almost 25 years now. The cure or solution to diabetes type 1 was always presented as being around the corner, five or ten years away. Diabetes, especially type 2, is a huge industry with great pressure against a "breakthrough". There have been several promising avenues towards a cure for type 1 that have been pursued over the years. One has been islet cell transplants - and a small company - LCT - in Australia leads the way in this field, struggling mightily for financial support. More recently promising trials have begun in the US using stem cells. There are many fine researchers working in the field. Of special note is Bernhard Hering here at the University of Minnesota.

One of the most astonishing researchers in the field is Dr. Denise Faustman. Dr. Faustman has developed her own ideas about how to deal with this nasty illness. She is a revolutionary thinker. For many years now, Dr. Faustman has met stiff resistance - in spite of being connected to a first class laboratory at Mass General. Most of her research financing has come from private sources - Lee Iacocca in particular. The main- stream diabetes research organizations have been strangely reluctant to get behind her. Others have spent some time trying to sidetrack or "borrow" her research ideas, at the same time discounting them. It is an ugly story. Dr. Faustman has remained unfazed through all this, and continued at her work. She is a remarkable woman and you can see an interview with her here.

Today there is the following article in the Wall Street Journal. The story is also in many other newspapers. The reader will notice that there are several interesting angles to this story.

Dr. Denise Faustman has long been a great hero to me, and this news comes as no surprise to me. She is one great gal. Many of the readers of this blog will not miss the parallels to another great researcher - Dr. Judy Mikovits.

3 comments:

  1. As always, you have started me thinking, Patient Advocate. This is the first I have heard of Dr. Faustman, but I am glad to know about her. What saddens me is that the more I study, the more I find indications that all the ridiculous nonsense that has delayed Dr. Mikovits' reseearch is not so unusual. Science seems to be more "politics" than science. Our lives hang in the balance, and the people I used to respect in government and business are playing chess and forfeiting the lives of pawns like me, apparently without a second thought, and they seem to relish the fame. This is not a game to me. My own life has been destroyed, and now I am concerned about the lives of my child and grandchildren and great grandchild. The only real hope I have now is the Dr. Mikovits' research at the Whittemore Peterson Institute. If only... if only the government employees and corporations and unethical researchers would just allow the research to go forward. At least we would be on our way to knowing the truth.

    I am thankful beyond measure to the real heroes, such as Dr. Faustman and Dr. Mikovits, but my loathing for those who present these false obstacles to the research grows daily.

    Patricia Carter
    XMRV+, 24 years M.E.

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  2. I ditto Patricia Carter except in the loathing dept.

    My loathing extends to the power elite who violates Mother Earth, targets Muslims, the poor, gays, people of color, the mentally/physically ill, women, the elderly, etc. to satisfy their limitless greed.

    I balance this negative piece with regularly touching base with joyful, caring friends, seeing a compassionate doctor who believes me and really listens, following blogs like this one, taking walks with my neighbor's dog when able, enjoying my feline roommates, and reading uplifting literature and listening to music as tolerated.

    One of my ongoing prayers is that Ian Lipkin has the courage and integrity to withstand government pressure via corporate lobbying. If Lipkin finds the WPI's findings to be true and has the strength to give voice to that truth, he will be a true hero and forever in our debt.

    In the meantime the WPI has, and will always have, our backs. We must continue to support them individually and collectively.

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  3. It's good to see that there are still revolutionary thinkers in the world. We need these kinds of people to cure these types of illnesses!

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