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NU: Embryonic stem cell research on hold BY MARTHA STODDARD Lincoln Journal Star The University of Nebraska will hold off on research using human embryonic stem cells while federal officials review the issue. University President L. Dennis Smith said Wednesday he will not act on a committee's recommendations about the controversial research, pending a decision by President Bush about federal funding for such studies. But he praised the work of the Nebraska Bioethics Advisory Committee, which submitted its final majority report and recommendations about stem cell research, along with two minority reports, last week. "The committee thoroughly considered all facets of current scientific knowledge, as well as diverse philosophical and moral views," Smith said. "I believe the majority recommendations, that we continue to conduct research using adult stem cells and apply very strict conditions and restraints to any future use of human embryonic stem cells, reflect the views of most Nebraskans." The majority recommendations would allow human embryonic stem cell research at the university, including projects in which researchers destroy embryos by removing cells and projects in which researchers use cells only after they have been removed by others. Each project would have to win approval from a scientific review board and a board charged with protecting human subjects in research. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman, chairman of the bioethics committee, reported in a letter to Smith that 16 of the 21 committee members voted for the majority recommendations. Three members signed on to a minority report that rejected the majority recommendations and called for research using adult stem cells only. The signers included Sister Renee Mirkes with the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha; Dan Parsons, executive director of Family First; and Fremont attorney Larry Yost. A second minority report also opposed the use of stem cells taken from embryos or aborted fetuses. But the signers, Barbara Engebretsen, an assistant professor at Wayne State College, and Josephine Potuto, a law professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, endorsed recommendations from the majority report about how such cells should be obtained and used, if the decision was made to do embryonic stem cell research. Parsons also issued a press release criticizing the bioethics committee as a "front" for the university. "After having served on this committee for a year," he said, "it has become very clear that not only was the committee membership stacked in favor of the research but the committee itself was a front so the University of Nebraska Medical Center would appear to be addressing the concerns of Nebraska citizens." He said the committee did not review all of the information about adult stem cell research before drawing up its recommendations. Stem cells are of interest because they can give rise to all other types of cells in the human body: liver cells, heart cells, blood cells and so forth. Researchers hope they can be used to repair damage caused by illness or injury. Stem cells taken from days-old embryos or from the developing sperm and eggs of aborted fetuses can become the greatest number of cell types. But they are controversial because of their source. Adult stem cells - taken from children or adults - are not controversial but are believed to have more limited potential. Bush has asked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to review federal guidelines adopted last year. The guidelines would allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research under certain conditions. Whatever decision Thompson and Bush reach, the matter is likely to become the subject of court battles. Nightlight Christian Adoptions, a California group, has sued to block any federal funding, while a group of university scientists and patient advocacy groups have sued to try to force federal funding. Reach Martha Stoddard at 473-7245 or [log in to unmask] http://www.journalstar.com/nebraska?story_id=3392&past= ******** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn