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FROM: USA TODAY June 28, 2001, Thursday, FIRST EDITION SECTION: LIFE; Pg. 8D LENGTH: 816 words HEADLINE: Published stem cell report not final word BYLINE: Michelle Healy from staff and wire reportsE-mail [log in to unmask] "A draft report by the National Institutes of Health on the benefits of stem cell research, published in Wednesday's New York Times, is different from the final version currently being studied by officials at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Bush administration, sources say. "The information that The New York Times was using represents an earlier version that was not sent to the Department of Health and Human Services," says Don Ralbovsky, a spokesman for the National Institutes of Health. The leaked draft report apparently described the benefits of embryonic stem cell research in more positive terms than the final version now in the hands of the administration. The final version uses more conservative language to describe potential benefits, according to sources who say they have seen the new report. The Bush administration asked for the NIH report as it considers whether to allow federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Regardless of politics, scientists have demonstrated that embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to develop into nearly any type of tissue, with varying degrees of potential for being developed into treatments for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. But members of the administration and some members of Congress have opposed embryonic stem cell research, stating moral and ethical concerns related to the destruction of human embryos. HHS officials say a decision on funding of embryonic stem cell research is expected by mid-July. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn