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Stem-Cell Laws Put State In Vanguard By Terri Somers UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER September 25, 2003 California moved toward cementing its role as the national hub for stem-cell research yesterday with the signing of new laws establishing a registry of embryos donated for research and directing the Department of Health Services to establish guidelines for scientists. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, and supported by the state's biotechnology industry and patient advocate groups, builds on a law signed a year and a day ago by Gov. Gray Davis, establishing California as a state that supports all types of stem-cell research. That law attracted internationally recognized scientists such as Dr. Evan Snyder, who relocated from Harvard University to La Jolla's Burnham Institute. "The symbolic message (the legislation) sent was so exciting that it drew me and other scientists, foundation members and biotech companies to come and view California as probably the hub of stem-cell research in the country," Snyder said at a news conference yesterday with other proponents of the laws. Although 11 other states now are trying to follow California's lead with their own legislation, the new laws fly in the face of a 2001 presidential order setting limits on stem-cell research, as well as attempts to ban the research by Congress and an increasing number of states. "Is California trying to set itself as a model for the rest of the country? Absolutely," said Larry Goldstein, a professor and stem-cell researcher at the University of California San Diego. "It's an area of research that shows great promise . . . but we want to be sure we proceed appropriately, in a socially sensitive way, and not do things that would generally be regarded as unethical." Embryonic stem cells have the potential to develop into any cell in the body, leading scientists to believe they hold the promise of treatments for a bevy of illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's diseases. "This represents an entirely new way of viewing disease," Snyder said. "It's one that approaches treating or curing the disease by trying to redevelop the organ that was damaged and get it right this time." However, stem cells are controversial because obtaining them involves destroying a human embryo to extract them. Some opponents of the research deem it tantamount to taking a life; others say it opens the door to cloning humans. In August 2001, President Bush restricted federally funded research to a set number of stem-cell lines. Researchers say only 11 of those lines are viable and accessible. Proposed federal legislation that would severely limit or ban the research and override any state laws stalled in the Senate. One of the new California laws addresses embryos, collected through fertility processes, that couples or individuals may decide they no longer intend to use. This law instructs clinicians to inform patients that rather than have the embryos destroyed, they can donate them anonymously to research and have them added to a state registry. The second law instructs the state Department of Health Services to develop stem-cell research guidelines by Jan. 1, 2005. It assigns the task to a 13-member advisory committee that the department is to form with scientists, ethicists, legal experts and representatives of religious groups. All research projects with embryonic stem cells are to be reviewed and approved by institutional review boards. With this legislation, California will lead the nation through example, "showing this can be done in a responsible manner that allows oversight and the input of others beyond the scientific community," said Joe Panetta, chief executive of Biocom, the San Diego biotechnology industry organization. However, Snyder said the nascent science is hindered by a lack of federal funding as a result of the president's restrictions. To expect scientists to use the stem-cell lines designated by Bush in 2001, he said, is like "buying a computer then and expecting it to last you to 2010. It's as if you wanted to fight a war but were only allowed to use World War II weaponry." It also has a chilling effect on the future of the research, Goldstein said. "What young scientist would want to devote his career to an area fraught with such political pressure?" he asked. Legislation Ortiz wrote to establish a funding mechanism to support her other stem-cell research bills stalled in committee because of the state's budget woes. Some researchers, including UCSD's Goldstein, said money from private philanthropic groups helps support research in spite of the lack of federal funds. But Snyder said the best way to guarantee that the emerging scientific knowledge is made available to the largest number of researchers would be through government funding. Even though many foundations are intent on getting data, cell lines and information out there, research done by private enterprise brings with it intellectual-property issues, he said. That prevents knowledge from being disseminated as quickly as it otherwise might be. "The best way to help the greatest number of Americans is through federal funding," he said. "In lieu of that, we need state government funding to support this research. "If allowed to develop, because biomed is so strong, (California) could be the hub of stem-cell research in the world. But right now, we could be outflanked by other countries where good scientists can work without restrictions." Terri Somers: (619) 293-2028; [log in to unmask] SOURCE: San Diego Union Tribune, CA http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20030925-9999_1n25stem.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn