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Stem Cell Study Divides U.S. Officials Robert Pear - New York Times Service Thursday, June 28, 2001 WASHINGTON A new report from the National Institutes of Health says that research on stem cells derived from both human embryos and adult tissue promises "a dazzling array" of treatments for various diseases, but for some purposes, it says, the embryonic cells are clearly superior. The confidential study was prepared as part of the Bush administration's review of federal policy on embryonic stem cells. Officials within the administration are split over whether to prohibit federal spending on experiments using such cells, which have the ability to develop into almost any cells or tissues in the human body and thus may be useful in replacing or repairing failed tissues and organs. The report, while emphasizing the potential of embryonic stem cells, also suggests that the government should support research on adult stem cells. The adult cells "are capable of developing into more kinds of cells than previously imagined," it says, noting how blood stem cells can develop into brain cells, liver cells and heart muscle cells. The report, based in part on a wide survey of scientific journals, affirms the scientific consensus, with an immense amount of detail obtained from interviews with researchers around the world. But it does not analyze ethical, legal or social issues of stem cell research. While advocates of federal spending for such research point to the promise of new treatments, and possibly cures, for illnesses like Parkinson's disease and diabetes, anti-abortion groups, conservatives and the Roman Catholic Church object on moral grounds to using stem cells extracted from embryos, even those at fertility clinics that might otherwise be discarded. Some Bush advisers, led by Karl Rove, fear federal support for the research will alienate these groups at a time when President Bush seeks to solidify his support among conservatives and Catholic voters. Mr. Bush has said he opposes federal spending on stem cell research that involves the destruction of living human embryos. But he says he supports "promising research on stem cells from adult tissue." The embryonic stem cells are typically derived from five-day-old embryos consisting of 200 to 250 cells, says the report, titled, "Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions." The report noted some of the limitations of research with adult cells. "Adult stem cells are rare," the report says. "One of the advantages of using embryonic stem cells as compared with adult stem cells is that the embryonic cells have an unlimited ability to proliferate" in the laboratory. But for this reason, the report states, the embryonic cells carry a special risk: Their ability to proliferate means that they are more likely to induce the formation of tumors, particularly benign tumors. White House officials said they were not familiar with the institutes' study, which was requested by the secretary of health and human services, Tommy Thompson. Mr. Thompson was evidently planning to share the study with the White House, but an aide to Mr. Bush asked the department for details Tuesday after The New York Times obtained a copy of the document and asked the administration for comment. http://www.iht.com/articles/24315.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn