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KENTUCKY: Mongiardo For Embryonic Stem Cell Research By Feoshia Henderson Post staff reporter Publication Date: 08-04-2004 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Mongiardo said Tuesday he supported expanding embryonic stem cell research as a possible way to cure a range of diseases. "With stem cell research, we're talking about the potential to cure diseases like diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's," Mongiardo, a physician, said in a statement announcing his position. "I lost my mother to cancer when she was 47 years old. No family should ever have to suffer that kind of loss." Mongiardo, a state senator from Hazard, is running against U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Southgate. Mongiardo is a surgeon and chief of staff of Appalachian Regional Medical Center in Hazard. Embryonic stem cell research involves extracting stem cells from developing human embryos less than a week old. Researchers say the young stem cells can be manipulated by scientists to "grow" new tissue that could treat a number of diseases. Many anti-abortion groups are opposed to embryonic stem cell research because the embryo is destroyed in the extraction process. Bunning campaign manager David Young said Bunning favored adult stem cell research, which uses stem cells taken from adult tissue. Proponents of embryonic research say the adult stem cells are less promising because they cannot be as easily directed as embryonic stem cells to become new tissue. "Sen. Bunning supports stem cell research and realizes the possibilities it can have to help cure diseases. (He) favors adult stem-cell research and opposes embryonic stem-cell research," Young said. Mongiardo said Bunning supported "extremist ideology." "Politics of the extreme right, not science, stand in the way of groundbreaking stem cell research that could help save millions of lives," Mongiardo said. Young said, "Sen. Bunning believes we need to ensure both a scientific and ethical balance in this arena." Ron Reagan Jr., the son of the late President Reagan, drew national attention to the issue last week when he addressed the Democratic National Convention in favor of stem cell research. President Reagan, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease for nearly 10 years, died June 5. In 2001, President Bush limited federally funded research to a small line of embryo stem cells already available for the purpose of research. A bill pending in Congress would allow excess embryonic stem cells donated from in vitro fertilization clinics to be used for federal research. According to the bill, only embryos that would be discarded and not implanted in a woman as part of fertility treatments could be used. SOURCE: Kentucky Post, KY - 08-04-2004 http://www.kypost.com/2004/08/04/stem080404.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn