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Marjorie, you' ve done it again. Thankyou for your prompt answer to my request.. I will be sleeping a lot better tonight. Your information passes the test for authoratative and helpful for me.Sorry to say just before, I got your response, I leveled a mighty blast at all who dared consider using embryonic tissue. I hererbye send my apologies to any who might have been at the least bit stung by my words. I think we have had an excellent exchange on stem cells, ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marjorie L. Moorefield" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 7:21 PM Subject: Testimony/Bill Olson > At 08:33 PM 10/06/2000 -0700, you wrote: > >Marjorie , you are very special!! > > > > Of all the information and arguments that have been brought forth in > >the past few days in regard to stem cells, this sheds the most authoritative > >light on the subject. I am grateful for the response and tone of most of > >the participants, As you can surmise from my age (which is 70) . I really do > >not expect to have much more time to wait for the cure. > > > > As an old friend who is just a librarian, Would you help me > >understand the situation more fully. I have been wondering just how many > >researchers are now using infant stem cells in their research ,and what > >progress is being made!! > > > > Bill Olson,70 now, onset 1983, > >----- Original Message ----- > Hi Bill, > Thanks for the praise, this is one day I really need it too! > I'm going to let a Doctor, a Researcher from MIT answer your questions. > Its rather long, so I may have to split it ,if the LISTSERV sends it back. > > Testimony of Richard O. Hynes, Ph.D. > President, American Society for Cell Biology > To the Labor, Health & Human Services and > Education Subcommittee > of the > Appropriations Committee > United States Senate > September 14, 2000 > Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee: I am Richard Hynes, Professor > of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I am also an > investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Director of the > Center for Cancer Research. I am a member of the US National Academy of > Sciences and of the Institute of Medicine. I am here today as President of > the American Society for Cell Biology. The Society represents 10,000 basic > biomedical researchers, most of whom work in our Nation's leading research > universities and institutes. It is my great pleasure to appear before you > to explain why our organization feels that it is so important that the full > potential of human embryonic stem cell research be realized. > On behalf of the American Society for Cell Biology, I wish first to extend > my deepest appreciation to you, Chairman Specter, to Ranking Member Harkin > and to the members of the Subcommittee for the visionary and courageous > commitment you have made through your investment in biomedical research at > the NIH. We are extremely grateful that you have embraced the goal of > doubling the NIH budget over five years and that we are halfway towards > reaching that goal. This funding is vitally important to allow our nation's > scientists and clinicians to exploit the tremendous opportunities offered > by the current revolution in biomedical research to enhance the health of > the American public. > We believe deeply that this investment in biomedical research will be most > effectively used if embryonic stem cell research is included among the > innovative methods used to develop treatments and preventions for disease. > We understand the ethical concerns that some have raised about this > research but we respectfully submit that appropriately regulated research > on human embryonic stem cells can be conducted while taking into account > those concerns. The Guidelines recently released by the National Institutes > of Health enable federally funded scientists to conduct research using > pluripotent human embryonic stem cell lines. We believe that this research > will undoubtedly lead to new ways to treat disease and disability. > Embryonic stem cells will allow the creation of new, healthy tissue to > replace damaged or dead tissue, such as bone marrow for the treatment of > cancers, sickle cell anemia and thalassemis; pancreatic cells for the > treatment of diabetes, and neuronal cells for the treatment of Parkinson's > disease, Alzheimer's and various brain and spinal cord injuries and > disorders. The prospects offered by this research are analogous to, but > will likely far surpass, the benefits realized by organ transplantation > over recent decades. > We do not stand alone in our determination that this invaluable research > must go forward. Attached to my testimony is a statement signed by 70 > American organizations, including the American Medical Association, the > Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the Juvenile Diabetes > Foundation International, the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, the > American Association for Cancer Research, and the Federation of American > Societies of Experimental Biology which I respectfully request be submitted > for the record. > I also want to reiterate the support of the American Society for Cell > Biology for S.2015, "The Stem Cell Research Act of 2000" which you have > introduced, that would allow federally-funded scientists not only to use, > but also to derive embryonic stem cell lines for research purposes. > Some have argued that human embryonic stem cell research is "illegal, > unnecessary and immoral." We respectfully disagree on all counts. On the > contrary, we believe that it would be immoral not to pursue this great > opportunity to improve the quality of human life. > First, the charge that the NIH has acted illegally is unfounded. As you > well know, the Labor, Health & Human Services and Education Appropriations > bills have restricted embryo research for the last several years, but these > bills are silent on the use of embryonic stem cells. These cells are not > embryos and they cannot independently develop into embryos. The NIH > Guidelines prohibit the use of NIH funds to create embryos for experimental > purposes and they set specific criteria governing the sources from which > embryonic stem cells can be obtained. These guidelines require the informed > consent of the donors, preclude any possible direct benefit to such donors, > and prohibit the creation of embryos for research purposes. Cells used for > research must be derived solely from embryos generated for fertility > treatments and in excess of clinical need. Such embryos would otherwise be > discarded. A critical element of the NIH Guidelines is that the federal > government will oversee the use of embryonic stem cells. Heretofore, this > valuable resource was available exclusively to private and commercial > entities, which were not accountable to the public. By funding human > embryonic stem cell research, the federal government may exercise control > over standards for use of stem cells. This provision will facilitate open > debate and encourage public input into the appropriate uses of this > important scientific opportunity. > Second, critics argue that embryonic stem cell research is unnecessary > because stem cells derived from adult tissues may be used with equal > effectiveness. I regret that this claim is ill-informed and misleading. > Scientists are indeed guardedly encouraged by recent reports of plasticity > of some adult stem cells, but this line of research is in its very early > stages and far from definitive. We know little about the availability of > adult stem cells, their differentiation, or their potential for prolonged > maintenance outside the body. While we strongly support continued research > on adult stem cells, it is far too early to conclude that they will be as > effective in treating and preventing disease as embryonic stem cells seem > certain to be. If embryonic stem cell research were to be halted based on > that hope, it is entirely possible that years would pass before scientists > determine whether or not adult stem cells are of equivalent value. During > those years embryonic stem cell research can an should be pursued in > parallel, to the great benefit of many of our fellow citizens. This > possibility was emphasized in a letter to Chairman Specter in May from some > of this Nation's leading researchers investigating adult stem cells who > stated: "We are dismayed that our research is being used as a justification > to hinder or prohibit research with embryonic stem cells. It is simply > incorrect to use the future promise of adult stem cell research as an > argument that embryonic stem cell research is not critical and essential." > Again, I respectfully request that you submit their letters for the record. > Finally, given these facts, we believe it would be immoral not to pursue > embryonic stem cell research, within the appropriate regulatory oversight > mandated by the NIH Guidelines, because this research has enormous > potential to save human lives and to mitigate human suffering. The embryos > in question would be obtained from in vitro fertilization clinics only from > those in excess of clinical need. I submit that, if the issue is morality, > using embryonic cells for potentially life-saving research is greatly > preferable to discarding them. Surely we should take advantage of the > enormous life-saving potential of the thousands of embryos that are > currently frozen and destined for destruction? > Great Britain has recognized the value of stem cell research, having > strongly recommend the use of embryonic stem cells, and is now considering > enabling publicly funded researchers to establish new embryonic stem cell > lines. Other European countries are moving in the same direction. I do not > believe that the Europeans are less moral or ethical than we. I also do not > believe that they are less sensitive to the sanctity of life. I do believe > that they have acted appropriately to enact by law the generation of new > sources for stem cells in order to save lives and reduce suffering of the > living and I believe we should do the same in this country. > In conclusion, The American Society for Cell Biology strongly endorses the > NIH Guidelines which will enable federally-funded scientists to pursue > embryonic stem cell research. We also endorse S.2015, "The Stem Cell > Research Act of 2000". We feel that, for the sake of humanity, studies > using all forms of stem cells ( embryonic, fetal and adult ( should be > pursued vigorously. We owe it to all those who are suffering to explore all > possible avenues that could lead to the prevention of, and remedies for, > disease. > I thank you for the opportunity to testify before you, Mr. Chairman. I > would be pleased to answer any questions. > P:/tleshan/ppolicy/HynestestH.rtf