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Parkinson's Foundations' Statement on Stem Cells U.S. Newswire 9 Aug 17:38 Joint Statement by National Parkinson Foundation, Parkinson's Disease Foundation on Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research To: National Desk Contact: Dr. Lewis P. Rowland of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 212-305-8551; or Gerald D. Fischbach of Columbia University, 212-305-3592 NEW YORK, Aug. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a joint statement by the National Parkinson Foundation and Parkinson's Disease Foundation on federal funding for research involving embryonic stem cells: It is the position of the National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation that current NIH guidelines governing federal funding for research involving embryonic stem cells -- developed during the last Administration but suspended since by President Bush -- are consistent with law, with scientific opportunity, and with the needs and hopes of millions who look to this research as leading to a potential cure for their diseases. The guidelines should be reinstated. Under the present guidelines, federal funds can be used to investigate embryonic stem cells, under controls that include requirements for informed consent on the part of the donor. The rules limit federal support to research on cells derived from embryos that are produced in the normal course of in vitro fertilization and that are in excess of the needs of the infertile couple. These excess embryos would otherwise be discarded. The guidelines would not permit federal support for research involving the deliberate creation of embryos for research purposes, such as has recently been reported from a laboratory in Virginia. Research involving embryonic stem cells is an extremely promising avenue in the drive to eliminate disease conditions of many kinds, including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. President Bush should move immediately to affirm the current federal guidelines and by so doing, to earn the respect and thanks of the tens of millions who suffer with diseases that could potentially be eased or ended by this kind of research. --- The National Parkinson Foundation, based in Miami, Fla., and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, based in New York City, are two of the leading organizations representing the Parkinson's community in the United States. KEYWORDS: SCIENCE, POLICY, HEALTH -0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ 08/09 17:38 SOURCE: U.S. Newswire http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0809-140.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn