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MINNESOTA: BIORESEARCH: Stem Cell Research Bill Advances BY TOM MAJESKI - Pioneer Press Posted on Fri, Mar. 12, 2004 A bill that would permit and regulate embryonic stem cell research in Minnesota passed a Senate committee on a 6-3 vote Thursday and was sent to the Senate floor. The issue ignited a national controversy last year because extracting the stem cells kills embryos. The Bush administration has banned the use of federal money on embryonic stem cell research unless the cells come from a limited line of embryos. But researchers say the approved embryos were created early in the research and likely were contaminated with mice cells. They may also contain mice viruses. Many universities, including the University of Minnesota, now are raising private funding to pay for research on stem cells from other embryos. One of the bill's sponsors, Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, called the bill a balanced approach to a controversial issue. He said embryonic stem cell research fits into Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to turn Minnesota into a bioscience center. But Pawlenty spokesman Daniel Wolter said the governor has neither reviewed the bill nor taken a position on it. Sen. Sean Nienow, R-Cambridge, was among those voting against the bill. He said the measure gave researchers too much leeway. "In my opinion, the scope of it is just breathtaking," Nienow said. "I would like to see some limitations. I don't know that we serve the public interest at this point, for example, by allowing human cloning to obtain embryonic stem cells and to allow for research and experimentation without some limits." University researchers said it would be a mistake not to conduct research on both types of stem cells. One type might work well for treating Parkinson's but not heart disease, they said. Dr. Catherine Verfaillie, who heads the university's Stem Cell Institute, told lawmakers that adult stem cells, while potent, appear less versatile than embryonic stem cells. Most adult stem cells have built-in time clocks, she said. As the cells divide, the clocks tell them they are getting old. That doesn't happen to embryonic stem cells until they become body tissue. Verfaillie said the university wants to be in a position to be able to study "both sides of the coin. We're scientists and I have no preference over which of these cells will work." The bill, SF2077, is online at http://www.leg.state.mn.us/ Tom Majeski, who covers medical news, can be reached at [log in to unmask] or 651-222-2346 SOURCE: St. Paul Pioneer Press, MN http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/politics/8165531.htm Reference: Minnesota Senate SF2077 - Status - Text - Stem Cell Research State Policy http://tinyurl.com/22rpq Dr. Catherine Verfaillie, MD http://www1.umn.edu/stemcell/sci/page/fac-mbr/verfaillie/verfaillie.shtml Science Friday: November 7, 2003: Hour Two: Minnesota Remote: Stem Cells Dr. Catherine Verfaillie, Dan Kaufman, Stanimir Vuk-Pavlovic, and Jeff Kahn Listen to a Great 1 Hour Audio Archive: http://tinyurl.com/2kkhn Text: http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2003/Nov/hour2_110703.html The Stem Cell Institute - University of Minnesota http://www1.umn.edu/stemcell/sci/page/pg/patch2gar2v2-8_6.shtml * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn