The scientific community is once again supporting stem cell research.
The letter is in another INFO: posting.
There is more information at --
http://www.aaas.org/news/bush.html
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AAAS Urges President Bush to Fund Stem-Cell
Research
Washington D.C.- 6 March 2001-The American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) sent a letter to President George W. Bush
expressing its strong support for federal funding of research using human stem
cells from embryonic, fetal and adult sources. "It would be tragic," the letter
states, "to squander this opportunity to pursue work that can potentially help
millions of Americans in need."
According to the letter, the discovery of stem cells, capable of giving
rise to
virtually any tissue type, could be the most significant scientific and medical
breakthrough in the past decade. The result of such research could lead to
treatments and/or cures for some of America's most degenerative illnesses,
including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and heart
disease. In
addition, the study of stem cells could contribute to the understanding of birth
defects and the development of new drugs targeted at specific diseases.
The letter, which was signed by Mary L. Good, chair of the AAAS Board,
Peter H.
Raven, president of AAAS, and Floyd E. Bloom, president-elect of AAAS,
offers to
assist the administration in its review of current federal policy regarding stem-cell
research. The AAAS officers expressed their wish that government policy
will not
foreclose the hope that the many sufferers of disease and disability have
vested in
stem-cell research.
The letter acknowledges that there is a common misconception that the use of
adult stem cells-as opposed to embryonic and fetal stem cells-will be
sufficient for
research. The AAAS notes that, based on current knowledge, many in the scientific
community doubt that adult stem cells will be as effective as other stem
cells in
treating diseases.
In addition to the letter, a detailed AAAS report on the subject of stem-cell
research was sent to President Bush. Based on many months of study by
scientists, ethicists, and theologians, the November 1999 report recommends that
"federal funding for stem cell research is necessary in order to promote
investment in this promising line of research, to encourage sound public policy,
and to foster public confidence in the conduct of such research." The
report also
addresses ethical concerns raised by the use of embryonic and fetal stem cells
and concludes that it is possible to conduct embryonic stem-cell research
in a fully
ethical manner.
According to the report, the case for public funding is made even stronger
by the
amount of stem-cell research taking place in the private sector without public
oversight. Public funding, the reports states, would help to ensure that the
research is closely monitored and meets ethical standards.
Founded in 1848, AAAS is the world's largest federation of scientists with more
than 138,000 individual members and 273 affiliated societies. The Association
publishes the weekly, peer-reviewed journal Science and administers EurekAlert!
(www.eurekalert.org), the online news service featuring the latest
discoveries in
science and technology.
Editor's Note: Copies of the letter are available upon request. The stem-cell
research report can be accessed at
http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/sfrl/projects/stem/main.htm.)
For more information contact: Cate Alexander, Senior Communications Officer,
AAAS News and Information at 202-326-6431 or [log in to unmask]
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Ray Strand
Prairie Sky Design
-----------------( on the Edge of the Prairie Abyss )---------------
when the sky is clear
the ground is visible
49/dx PD 2 yrs/40? onset/retired
