 |
 |
EDITORIAL: Stem Cell Breakthroughs The Boston Globe, MA May 17, 2004 THE POTENTIAL that embryonic stem cells have in treating illnesses like Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart disease has made them the focus of pioneering research all over the world. In the United States, unfortunately, this effort is hindered by a rule that President Bush laid down three years ago: Federally funded scientists are restricted to working with the limited number of stem cell lines that existed in August 2001. Earlier this month an eloquent advocate with impeccable GOP credentials joined those who have asked for a loosening of the Bush rule: Nancy Reagan. Until now, the wife of the former president, who suffers from Alzheimer's, had argued privately for a change. In the week before she spoke out, 206 members of the House of Representatives, including the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and other leading Republicans, signed a letter to the president supporting federally funded research with new cell lines from embryos left over from in-vitro procedures at fertility clinics. Even the Senate majority leader, Dr. Bill Frist of Tennessee, has said the Bush policy should be reviewed, partly because of reports that stem cell researchers are leaving this country to work in more supportive environments overseas. Bush set his policy to stop the destruction of more embryos to yield their stem cells, which Bush and others equate with abortion. At the time he said there were 64 cell lines available for US-backed experimentation. That turned out to be an exaggeration; the National Institutes of Health says there are 19, which many scientists say is too few for their work. Harvard has announced plans for a Harvard Stem Cell Center that would explore ways to use stem cells in treating several diseases and spinal cord injuries. With a goal of $100 million in privately raised funds, the center could lead to the kind of advances that millions of disease sufferers are hoping for. In California there is a proposal for a ballot initiative authorizing $3 billion in state-backed stem cell research. But, especially at the level of basic research, federal support in a promising new field is crucial. If Bush doesn't change his policy, Congress should act to do so on its own. SOURCE: The Boston Globe, MA http://tinyurl.com/2ee2t * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn