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Finneran Now Backs Stem Cell: New Job, `New Info,' New Position By John Strahinich Wednesday, November 10, 2004 Former House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran said yesterday that state lawmakers should pass legislation supporting embryonic stem cell research - a dramatic reversal from his position when he blocked similiar bills on Beacon Hill. Finneran, now president of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, said the state needs to meet the challenge of an escalating war with California for dominance in biotech research. ``With me no longer on the field, the dynamic has definitely changed'' on Beacon Hill, Finneran said. California passed a law last week creating a $3 billion, 10-year fund to subsidize embryonic stem research - touted as a promising avenue that could lead to cures for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries and other afflictions. ``What California has done is it has made a very bold and dramatic statement,'' Finneran said, emphasizing that the chances of passing alaw supporting such research had vastly improved now that he was no longer in a position to kill it. Finneran's remarks followed his speech to a group of pharmaceutical engineers in which he acknowledged a recent study identifying Massachusetts as the world leader in biotech research. But he warned that the state must not become smug or arrogant. ``Any sense of complacency that might settle in would be fatal,'' he told the engineers. ``Very serious competitive thrusts are being made by other states and regions . . . California obviously is a notorious competitor.'' Finneran, im his prepared remarks, didn't mention California's new law. But in a brief interview afterward, he acknowledged the seriousness of the threat from the Left Coast - but said Massachusetts didn't need to sweeten any proposed legislation with financial incentives. "`I'm not saying Massachusetts has to match California stride for stride,'' Finneran said, noting that California's finances are in shambles. The council has sponsored past legislation supporting stem cell research. Then and again yesterday, Finneran has said his opposition originating not from his beliefs as a pro-life Catholic, but from lack of information. A spokeswoman for the council refused to say whether the group will file stem cell legislation in the coming session. But if and when it does, she said, Finneran has promised to support it. "He has said that as part of the council, he will go with the board on this issue,'' said Vicki Greene, the spokeswoman. Finneran's about-face came as welcome news to one local stem cell researcher. ``He's absolutely right,'' said Robert Lanza, medical director of Advanced Cell Technology, in Worcester, which has done animal-cloning experiments. The company recently announced plans to establish a laboratory in Californa. "California and Massachusetts are in a biotech race,'' Lanza said. ``And Massachusetts needs to step up to the plate.'' SOURCE: Boston Herald, MA http://tinyurl.com/6xaoz * * *Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> Please place this address in your address book Please purge all others Web site: Parkinsons Resources on the WWWeb http://www.geocities.com/murraycharters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn