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Specter urges White House to expand stem cell policy By LARA JAKES JORDAN The Associated Press April 23, 2003 4:11 PM WASHINGTON - Sen. Arlen Specter, a longtime supporter of embryonic stem cell research, is urging the White House to expand its stem cell policy to help find cures for debilitating diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In an April 21 letter to President Bush, Specter, R-Pa., said scientists have recently discovered ways to grow human stem cells without using mouse "feeder" cells. All the 78 stem cells that currently receive federal funding, as approved by Bush in August 2001, were exposed to mouse feeder cells when they were produced - making them vulnerable to viruses and other contaminating proteins, Specter said. "These recent developments underscore the need to expand your ... policy so that doctors and scientists can use these new, safer stem cell lines and realize the promise of stem cell research to cure diseases and disorders that afflict millions of Americans," Specter wrote. Stem cells form very early in an embryo's development and later differentiate into numerous types of cells to create various organs and other parts of the body. Scientists who support such research say stem cells can be used to find new treatments for conditions ranging from diabetes and spinal cord injuries to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. But critics of stem cell research say it is unethical because the 5- day-old embryo dies when the cells are removed. On Aug. 9, 2001, the Bush administration, citing ethical considerations, limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to 78 already existing lines of cells. White House spokesman Scott McClellan called the 78 lines "more than enough" Wednesday and said that research shows that adult stem cells are "more versatile." "The president arrived at his (2001) decision with great care, after extensive consultations that included leading scientists," McClellan said. "And those leading scientists told him the existing lines are more than enough to conduct basic research to realize the promise of stem cell research." McClellan said the federal government spends about $350 million annually on stem cell research. A spokesman for the federal National Institute for Health did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The issue may become a campaign topic for Specter as he faces a GOP primary rival next year when he runs for re-election against Rep. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who opposes such research on embryonic cells. The Republican-led House approved legislation earlier this year to ban all human cloning - including for research purposes - and impose fines and prison sentences for violators. Specter has long pushed for such so-called "therapeutic cloning," which would use embryo stem cells for research. April 23, 2003 4:11 PM SOURCE: PhillyBurbs http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-04232003-78337.html * * * Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> Parkinson's Resources on the WWWeb http://www.geocities.com/murraycharters/ TherapeuticCloning http://www.TherapeuticCloning.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn