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WASHINGTON, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Parkinson's Action Network (PAN), the leading advocacy voice of the Parkinson's community, today announced that it has joined as a member of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, a broad- based coalition of concerned citizens and dozens of leading patient and medical organizations working to protect patient access to stem cell treatments and cures in Kansas. "As an advocate for the Parkinson's community, PAN strongly supports the efforts of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures," said Amy Comstock, PAN's Executive Director. "Early stem cell research holds significant promise for patients suffering from many diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Kansans deserve full and equal access to any stem cell treatments and therapies that are allowed in our country and available to patients in other states. And, the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is leading the effort to ensure that Kansans continue to have that right." The Coalition's policy position is that any stem cell research, therapies or cures that are permitted by federal law should be allowed in Kansas, as long as those activities are conducted ethically and safely and do not involve human cloning. A recent public opinion poll shows that 79 percent of Kansas voters agree with this basic policy position. Stem cells could one day provide cures for diseases and injuries that afflict hundreds of thousands of Kansas children and adults -- and millions of other Americans -- including Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, ALS and spinal cord injury. The Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures was formed to support all types of stem cell research and cures in Kansas - and to oppose continuing attempts by some politicians to impose a state ban on stem cell research and future cures that are allowed under federal law. Any such bans would unfairly prohibit Kansas patients from having access to future stem cell cures and prevent Kansas medical researchers from providing and helping to find those cures. PARKINSON'S ACTION NETWORK Through education and interaction with the Parkinson's community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders and the public, PAN leads the fight to ease the burden and find a cure. PAN increases awareness about Parkinson's disease and seeks increased and accelerated federal support for Parkinson's research. PAN now joins with more than 40 other leading patient and medical organizations as a member of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, including: -- American Association for Cancer Research -- Christopher Reeve Foundation -- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International -- Parkinson Foundation of the Heartland -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society -- Project A.L.S. -- Stowers Institute for Medical Research -- University of Kansas Medical Center More information on the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is available online at http://www.kansascures.com/ . Contact: Amy Comstock, 202-638-4101, ext. 106 Website: http://www.kansascures.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn