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that Dr. Robl's group of researchers was one of only three in the world working on technology to clone embryos. In the mid '90s, Dr. Robl founded a company, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), to help fund his group's cloning efforts, and in 1998, Dr. Robl and his team of scientists at ACT became the fi rst in the world to successfully clone a cow (actually, two) — the genetically engineered calves George and Charlie. "This cloning technology was key in allowing the scientific commu- nity to take giant steps forward to genetically engineer and make complex genetic modifications with animals," Dr. Robl says. Breakthrough When Dr. Robl and his group of scientists successfully cloned George and Charlie, they unlocked a technology with endless possibilities. Dr. Robl was most interested in genetically engineering cattle to produce human antibodies that could be used to fight infections. For years, Dr. Robl and his staff have been making human therapeutics from cows to potentially heal humans from disease and injury. "We have created the most complex genetic modifi cations ever accomplished in any species," Dr. Robl says. "The cattle that contain pieces of human chromosomes currently produce human antibodies. These antibodies are then vac- cinated, produce an immune response, and then are recovered to be injected to help to cure a disease." Efforts have been made to use the same technology in humans, but none have been successful. The main cause of this is most likely due to the lack of human sample. With cattle, you can obtain many eggs at once to experi- ment with. Obviously, it's not as easy with humans. Dr. Robl with the cloned cows George and Charlie Therapeutic Cloning and Genetic Engineering Dr. Robl has spent his entire career laying the groundwork so that, one day, cloning technologies, such as cell-based therapeutics and reprogrammed cells, can be used to cure diseases and heal once-irreparable injuries. The companies Dr. Robl founded are now working on next-generation advancements in genetic engineering. Advanced Cell Technology is currently working on using stem cells to help cure blindness. Another company he founded, Hematech, is using cell-based therapeutics to help treat humans for multiple diseases. Hematech, which is considered a world leader in genetic engineering research, is also working out a way to reprogram cells to treat spinal cord injuries. "These cells are reprogrammed to make spinal cord neurons, and these neurons would be injected into the spine, MDNEWS.COM MD NEWS Greater Kansas | 7 causing them to heal," Dr. Robl says. Once scientists learn how to transfer these cells safely to humans, major advancements will be made in the way doctors can treat their patients. A person who is blind could one day see, and people with once-incurable diseases such as cancer may one day be cured. It's even possible that a 17-year-old football player who suffered a neck injury might one day get out of his wheelchair and walk again. Dr. Robl will speak about advances in genetic engineering at 7 p.m., November 17, at the Heimerman Science Center at Newman University in Wichita. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (316) 942-4291, ext. 2164.s