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New Coalition Forming to Retain Federal Funds for Stem Cell Research
Monday March 19, 6:57 am Eastern Time
Press Release
New Coalition Forming to Retain Federal Funds for Stem Cell Research
WASHINGTON, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- A new stem cell research advocacy
coalition comprised of universities, scientific societies, and voluntary
health organizations announced its formation today.
The new coalition -- the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
(CAMR) -- will be devoted to ensuring that federal funds are available for
embryonic stem cell research and that the current federal guidelines
overseeing the research are supported.
Stem cells are the master cells for human development and were first
isolated in 1998. Scientists believe that these cells could be critical to
curing such devastating diseases and conditions as juvenile diabetes,
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, ALS,
and many others.
Among the founding members of the coalition are American Society for Cell
Biology, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Parkinson's
Action Network, Harvard University, University of Wisconsin, Washington
University in St. Louis, Association of American Medical Colleges, and
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. The coalition will expand in the
near future to include dozens of universities and organizations.
The principal goal of CAMR is to ensure that current federal policy
regarding funding for stem cell research is retained. The Administration is
conducting a review of the current policy to determine whether it will be
retained or not. This review is expected to be completed in mid-summer.
The coalition has retained Vicki Hart, a consultant in Washington, DC who
works with former GOP presidential candidate and Senate Majority Leader
Robert Dole, to assist in its advocacy efforts.
The coalition will also rely on the grassroots efforts of its member
organizations to ensure that the Administration and Congress are aware that
a majority of Americans support federal funding of stem cell research. A
national public opinion poll conducted in January found that 65 percent of
Americans support the research.
SOURCE: Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
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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
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