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The article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, posted by Murray, "HHS seeks advice on stem cell ethics," stated that NIH funding is to be delayed yet another "4 -5 months, while yet another committee reviews the issue of stem cell research. HHS secretary Thompson is quoted stating: "I'm going to have a group of nationally known scientists from NIH (the National Institutes of Health) review the question of stem cell research..." "Thompson also said his department would continue to accept applications for stem cell research grants until March 15, a deadline set by the Clinton administration, but wouldn't decide whether to approve any until after a review of legal issues that will take four to five months." A little history : - The NIH placed moratorium on research using human pluripotent stem cells derived from human embryos and fetal tissue from January 1999 until August 25, 2000--- for 20 MONTHS WHILE IT STUDIED THESE SAME ISSUES AND ADDRESSED COMMENTS AND CONCERNS. -They received "approximately 50,000 comments from members of Congress, patient advocacy groups, scientific societies, religious organizations, and private citizens." - The final Guidelines were issued Aug. 25, 2000 and included "NIH's response to the substantive public comments that addressed provisions of the Guidelines...." The moratorium was to be lifted effective the same date. (see below) WHAT MORE IS THERE TO DISCUSS? The research funding will now be further delayed. Do any of us have 4 or 5 or possibly more time to waste, while the research is yet again put on hold? Are researchers realistically to be expected to keep submitting proposals for NIH grants, knowing there's a good possibility that they may never get funded by our government? Can we put the progression of Parkinson's Disease on hold too -- while HHS re-reviews, re-studies, re-examines ....??? SEE: NIH FACT SHEET ON HUMAN PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL RESEARCH GUIDELINES August 23, 2000 "The purpose of the NIH Guidelines is to prescribe procedures to help ensure that NIH-funded research in this area is conducted in an ethical and legal manner. By issuing these Guidelines, the NIH aims to enhance both the scientific and ethical oversight of this important arena of research and the pace at which scientists can explore its many promises. These Guidelines will encourage openness, help make certain that researchers can make use of these critical research tools, and help assure public access to the practical medical benefits of research using these cells. In an effort to help ensure that any research utilizing human pluripotent stem cells is appropriately and carefully conducted, the NIH sought the advice of scientists, patients and patient advocates, ethicists, clinicians, lawyers, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC), members of Congress, among others in drafting these Guidelines. The draft Guidelines were published for public comment in the Federal Register and after reviewing and considering all comments, the NIH will publish the final NIH Guidelines in the Federal Register on August 25, 2000." For more info. and the final NIH guidelines see: http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/index.htm Linda