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Thanks Murray for posting the latest news in the ongoing cliffhanger of whether or not President Bush will ban federal funding of stem cell researcher. I believe now the question no longer "will he" but "when will he." It's ironic that on the same day that we are treated to the exciting news about new progress in Parkinson's research, we also read of the Bush administrations plans to ban promising research. HHS Secretary Thompson, who previously stated support of the research, seems to have made his new position clear - " Thompson, as governor, praised as pioneers Wisconsin researchers who co-discovered the vital cells.Asked about his earlier comments, Thompson said his position may have to change. "I found out that I'm a cabinet officer now, " he said." What can those who support stem cell research now do? See the followiing Action Alert and the letter recently sent to Bush, organized by the American Society for Cell Biology, and signed by 123 patient, research, and academic institutions, among them the Parkinson's Action Network. There is more background information at: www.jscpp.org/Stemcell.htm I. Action needed Please contact President George Bush, your Senators and Representatives to urge them to support stem cell research and the NIH Stem Cell Guidelines. If you would like assistance please contact Tim Leshan ([log in to unmask]) at the ASCB. For information on how to contact your Senators and your Representative see <http://www.jscpp.org/congress.htm>. This letter was organized by the American Society for Cell Biology January 17, 2001 President-Elect George W. Bush Bush-Cheney Transition Headquarters 1800 G Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20270 Dear President-Elect Bush: The undersigned 123 patient, research, and academic institutions, write to express their strong support for federal funding of research using human pluripotent stem cells. Our organizations are committed to working with you to advance this potentially life-saving research. The discovery of pluripotent stem cells may be the single most important scientific and medical breakthrough in the past decade or more. This work could impact the lives of millions of Americans suffering from many of humanity's most devastating illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, ALS, heart disease, cancer, spinal cord injury and diabetes. There is hope that pluripotent stem cell research will result in new treatments and cures for many of these diseases and disabilities. As you know, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently issued Guidelines for Research Involving Human Pluripotent Stem Cells, which enable scientists to conduct stem cell research within the constraints of careful federal oversight and standards. It is likely that funding from the NIH will unleash the full capability of the biomedical research workforce to bring the remarkable potential of human pluripotent stem cells to fruition. A vocal minority has argued that adult stem cells will be sufficient to pursue treatments or cures for disease. But, the prevailing expert scientific opinion is that it is far too early to know if adult stem cells have the same potential as embryonic stem cells. For diseases that prove not to be treatable with adult stem cells, impeding human pluripotent stem cell research risks unnecessary delay for patients who may die or endure needless suffering while the effectiveness of adult stem cells is evaluated. We are particularly concerned that those who cite the promise of adult stem cell research do so without full understanding of the limitations and preliminary nature of much of this research. Thus, while some have argued that "adult stem cells" are of equivalent promise to embryonic cells, it is far too early to know if this claim is correct. We do not know now, nor are we likely to know in the near future, whether adult stem cells have the same potential as embryonic stem cells, whether they can be gathered in sufficient quantities to treat disease, or whether they can grow indefinitely as can embryonic stem cells. It is likely to take years to discover whether adult stem cells will be useful for treating many diseases that may be treatable sooner with embryonic stem cells. It is critical that we neither prohibit nor hinder research in any of these areas. In contrast to work with adult cells, the enormous promise and potential therapeutic value of human embryonic stem cells is based on a substantial body of research generated over the past 20 years with mouse embryonic stem cells. This research and the existing work on human embryonic stem cells strongly suggest that embryonic stem cells are capable of generating many, if not all, of the cell types that make up a human organism, but that these cells by themselves cannot form an adult organism. Most important, mouse embryonic stem cells have been used in a variety of "proof of therapeutic principle" experiments in several animal models of human disease. For example, these cells appear to be able to produce neural progenitors that can repair spinal cord damage and reconstitute various types of brain cells. If reproducible with human embryonic stem cells, we may be able to treat Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. We may also be able to produce bone marrow cells to treat cancer and other diseases, and pancreatic cells to alleviate diabetes. In fact, we may be on the verge of a new era of medicine, one in which cell therapy could help restore normal function to a variety of affected tissues. The majority of Americans support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. A nationwide poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International found that 74% of those queried favor funding of stem cell research by the NIH. This is born out by strong bipartisan congressional support for this research from all political perspectives. It is also important to note that while private firms are already conducting research on pluripotent stem cells, these firms are limited in number, which limits the pace of discovery. While we recognize the legitimate issues raised by this research, it is also true that the embryonic stem cells being used in research will be discarded in any case. Under these circumstances, it would be tragic to waste this opportunity to pursue the work that can potentially help millions of people in need. Ethical safeguards developed by the NIH respect both the moral status of the embryo and public sensitivity to this issue, while ensuring that progress in critical medical research continues. Given the great hope that stem cell research provides to those who are suffering or dying from devastating illnesses, we urge you to allow this research to move forward with federal support. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your advisors to discuss this critical issue. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Alliance for Aging Research The ALS Association American Academy of Optometry American Association of Anatomists American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association American Brain Tumor Association American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) The American Foundation for AIDS Research American Gastroenterological Association The American Infertility Association American Liver Foundation American Medical Association American Pediatric Society The American Physiological Society American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology The American Society for Cell Biology American Society for Microbiology American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics American Society for Reproductive Medicine American Society of Hematology American Society of Human Genetics Association of American Cancer Institutes Association of American Medical Colleges Association of American Universities Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology Association of Independent Research Institutes Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics Association of Professors of Medicine Association of Subspecialty Professors Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Bay Area Bioscience Center Biotechnology Industry Organization Boston University School of Medicine The Brain Tumor Society California Institute of Technology Cancer Care The Cancer Research Foundation of America Cancer Treatment Research Foundation Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation Cedars-Sinai Health System Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Coalition of Advocates for Research on the Eye (CARE) Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups Colorectal Cancer Network Columbia University Cooley's Anemia Foundation Coriell Institute for Medical Research Council of the Radiation Research Society (RRS) Duke University Duke University Medical Center Emory University The Endocrine Society Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Genetic Alliance The Genome Action Coalition (TGAC) Hope for ALS International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery (IFADD) International Longevity Center International Myeloma Foundation Interstitial Cystitis Association Jeffrey Modell Foundation Jacob's Cure The Johns Hopkins University Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International The Kidney Cancer Association Lankenau Institute for Medical Research The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Lymphoma Research Foundation of America Medical College of Wisconsin Mount Sinai School of Medicine NAPE, Inc. National Alliance for the Mentally Ill National Brain Tumor Foundation The National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs National Childhood Cancer Foundation The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship National Eczema Association for Science and Education (NEASE) National Eczema Association Board of Directors National Health Council National Patient Advocate Foundation National Pemphigus Foundation National Spinal Cord Injury Association National Vitiligo Foundation Neurofibromatosis, Inc., Mass Bay Area New York University School of Medicine Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Paralyzed Veterans of America ***Parkinson's Action Network Patients' Cure Project A.L.S. The Protein Society PXE International Radiation Research Society (RRS) Research!America School of Optometry, University of California Berkeley Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Society for Pediatric Research Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Society for Women's Health Research Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center Sturge-Weber Foundation SUNY Upstate Medical University Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance Tulane University University of California - San Diego University of Chicago University of Florida Health Science Center University of Minnesota University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine University of Rochester Medical Center University of Southern California University of Washington University of Wisconsin-Madison Xeroderma Pigmentosum Society Washington University in St. Louis WiCell Research Institute Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research & Education