 |
 |
Newsweek: "The Stem Cell Wars" Bush Strategist Karl Rove Quietly Proposing Compromise: Federal Funds for Research on Existing Human Cell Lines in Labs - Not from New Embryos NEW YORK, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Although President Bush's strategist Karl Rove has been prohibited from speaking to reporters about the White House position on human embryo stem cell research until after the president announces his decision on the hotly-contested issue, in the weeks ahead, Newsweek has learned that Rove has been quietly shopping a proposal aimed at pleasing, or at least placating, groups on both sides. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010701/HSSU004 ) Under Rove's compromise, the government would allow federal funds to be used for research on existing cell lines, originally drawn from human embryos but now continuously reproducing in laboratory dishes. Then the Department of Health and Human Services would write rules to compel the owners of those cell lines to share them with other researchers, Newsweek reports in the July 9 cover package, "The Stem Cell Wars" (on newsstands Monday, July 2). Already, commercial bio-tech firms and universities in the United States and overseas have developed a half dozen cell lines. No additional human embryos, generally left over from artificial insemination efforts, would be involved. Stem cell research pioneer Evan Snyder, of Harvard, said Rove's plan is "workable, but not ideal." But Larry Soler, chairman of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, says Rove's plan would be "seriously inadequate." Limiting research to a few existing cell lines would not allow enough genetic diversity to treat people with widely varying immunologies, Soler says. And the Christian right opposes any research from embryonic stem cells. "This is really a life and death issue," says Dr. David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical Association. "It's hard to compromise on that kind of thing." In another report in the cover package, Senior Editor Sharon Begley explains how stem cells -- with their ability to develop interreplacements for various kinds of damaged or diseased cells -- may help treat ailments ranging from Parkinsons, Alzheimers to heart disease and diabetes. Newsweek also covers the ethical debate surrounding this research on the starter-cells of human life. "Anyone who would ban research on embryonic stem cells will be responsible for the harm done to real, alive, postnatal, sentient human beings who might be helped by this research," biologist Irv Weissman of Stanford University tells Newsweek. "Opponents are sacrificing these people to keep from destroying embryos in fertility-clinic freezers" that will be thrown out anyway. (Read Newsweek's news releases at http://www.Newsweek.MSNBC.com. Click "Pressroom.") MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X66225236 SOURCE Newsweek Web Site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com Photo Notes: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010701/HSSU004 AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1 PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-01-2001/0001525001&EDATE= * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn