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Health - Reuters - updated 5:37 PM ET Jun 8 Friday June 8 5:29 PM ET Legislator Launches Adult Stem Cell Research Bill WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - A congressman has introduced legislation aimed at encouraging research on adult stem cells in an effort to derail pending legislation that would permit embryonic cell research. Stem cells are immature cells that give rise to a variety of specialized cells with the potential for therapeutic use. For example, stem cells could conceivably be used to make insulin-producing cells for diabetes patients or dopamine-producing cells for patients with Parkinson's disease. This type of research is being conducted largely under private funding for a number of potential targets. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) introduced on Friday the ''Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of 2001,'' under which the federal government would support research on adult stem cells but not embryonic cells. Smith is a leading opponent of embryonic stem cell research. The Smith legislation is meant as an alternative to legislation introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) on June 5, which would permit federal funding for research on embryonic cells. The Smith legislation would establish a cell donor bank at the National Institutes of Health (news - web sites) (NIH) to seek and preserve donations of adult stem cells. The bill would also create a $30 million annual federal fund to support research on stem cells derived from placentas, umbilical cord blood or adult tissues and organs. ``Adult stem cells are already being used to treat many diseases, such as brain tumors, ovarian cancer, leukemia, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, stroke, immunodeficiencies, anemia and blood and liver disease,'' Smith said. ``Making a meaningful commitment to adult stem cell research now is something that we can all agree should be pursued without reservation.'' But supporters of research on embryonic cells say it is too early to tell whether adult stem cells can offer the same benefits as embryonic cells. ``In light of that uncertainty, it would be bad public policy for political figures to substitute their judgment for that of medical researchers. Patients eager for relief will be best served by public funding and public accountability that allows scientists to make speedy progress by pursuing all reasonable avenues of stem cell research,'' Dan Perry, a founding member of the Patients Coalition for Urgent Research (CURe), told Reuters Health. Supporting the Smith alternative are 45 members of the House and several conservative groups, including National Right to Life (NRL) and the Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics (CARE). ``Adult stem cells are a success story in medical research, making good on the promises of regenerative medicine, with the potential to treat millions of Americans suffering from diseases. I applaud Rep. Chris Smith for introducing such a pro-patient bill to provide more funding toward adult stem cell research,'' said Dr. David Prentice, a founding member of CARE. ``This law embodies the principle that a non-consenting human being must not be subjected to harmful medical experimentation. Rep. McDermott's bill would rupture that principle by authorizing federally sponsored research to dissect and thereby kill living human embryos to obtain their stem cells,'' added Douglas Johnson, the legislative director for NRL. But with little movement expected on Capitol Hill in the near future thanks to pending issues such as the passage of a patients' bill of rights, it is unlikely that federal funding will be used to support any research for at least the present. In 2000, the Clinton administration authorized federal funding for stem cell research as long as the money was not used for the actual removal of embryonic cells. However, few researchers stepped up by the March 15 deadline due to the uncertainty surrounding the federal funding. At the time, leading researchers said the uncertainty made applying for the federal funds a futile effort. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010608/hl/stemcell_1.html *********** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn