 |
 |
FROM: Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research http://www.camradvocacy.org/fastaction/news.asp?id=503 For more information contact: Julie Kimbrough, 212-585-3501 House Bill Which Would Make Finding a Cure for Life-Threatening Diseases and Conditions Illegal Passes Judiciary Committee Patient Group Coalition Expresses Strong Opposition February 12, 2003—Washington, DC—Today, in the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee H.R. 534, which would make illegal the use of therapeutic cloning to help find cures for some of life’s most devastating diseases and conditions, passed. H.R. 534 is sponsored by Representatives Weldon and Stupak. The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), reiterated its strong opposition to the bill and calls on the United States Congress to act quickly to ensure that the final bill considered in the House protects important areas of medical research. CAMR, comprised of the nation’s leading patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, has led the charge to support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and efforts to oppose a ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer (commonly known as therapeutic cloning). “The Weldon-Stupak bill would send patients suffering from a debilitating disease like ALS, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s, as well as the scientists trying to help them, to jail for receiving treatments utilizing therapeutic cloning research—this is incredulous,” said Michael Manganiello, President of CAMR. “What’s worse, is that this committee did not even hold public hearings to listen to patients before making a decision on such a critical issue impacting the lives of 100 million Americans with diseases,” he added. The bill would also make it illegal for American patients to return home after receiving treatment using therapeutic cloning research abroad. The United Kingdom and other countries are actively supporting this area of research but once patients re-entered the U.S., they would be arrested. One of the most promising avenues of embryonic stem cell research is therapeutic cloning which can make stem cells that are genetically identical to the patient in need, thus curing the patient by using his/her own DNA. “Halting therapeutic cloning research would essentially stop this very promising road to a cure dead in its tracks, leaving millions of patients out in the cold,” stated Manganiello. “Therapeutic cloning research has the support of both leading Democrats and Republicans including former Presidents Ford and Carter as well as former First Lady Nancy Reagan. And a majority of the American public, the National Academy of Sciences, and the nation’s leading scientists and Nobel laureates all support this research. Congress must act to ensure that it represents the views of the nation on this critically important issue,” he added. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is about saving and improving lives. It is fundamentally different from human reproductive cloning; it produces stem cells, not babies. In somatic cell nuclear transfer, the nucleus of a donor’s unfertilized egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus of a patient’s own cells, like a skin, heart, or nerve cell. These types of cells are called somatic cells. The goal is to develop stem cells that will not be rejected or destroyed by the patient’s immune system. No sperm is used in this procedure. The cells are not transplanted into a womb. The unfertilized egg cells are stored in a petri dish to become a source of stem cells that can be used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. Somatic cell nuclear transfer aims to treat or cure patients by creating tailor-made, genetically identical cells that their bodies won’t reject. The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), is comprised of nationally-recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, foundations, and individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders, advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in regenerative medicine - including stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer - in order to cure disease and alleviate suffering. For more information on CAMR, visit the website: www.camradvocacy.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn