from Kaisernetwork.org
1/22/07
Three leading stem cell researchers, including a NIH official, at a
Senate hearing on Friday said that restrictions on federal funding
for human embryonic stem cell research are affecting scientists'
ability to make advances in the field and that alternatives to
embryonic stem cells are not as equally promising, CQ HealthBeat
reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 1/19).
Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is allowed only for
research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9,
2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date (Kaiser
Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/12). The hearing on Friday was
sponsored by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee and the Senate Appropriations- HHS-Education Subcommittee.
Story Landis, director of the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, said, "We are missing out on possible
breakthroughs. The ability to work on newly derived stem cell
colonies ... would be incredibly important." Landis added
that "science works best when scientists can pursue all avenues of
research. If the cure for Parkinson's disease or juvenile diabetes
lay behind one of four doors, wouldn't you want the option to open
all four doors at once instead of one door?" (Weiss, Washington Post,
1/20).
George Daley of Harvard University, who testified on behalf of the
American Society for Cell Biology, said embryonic cells "will not be
replaced" by other types of stem cells, such as adult and amniotic
fluid-derived stem cells. He also said that embryonic stem cells
already "have saved lives, not directly through cell replacement, but
indirectly through insights into disease and the development of
drugs." Daley said, "I believe there are no credible scientific
arguments which say that we should be studying adult stem cells at
the exclusion of embryonic stem cells." John Wagner, a stem cell
researcher at the University of Minnesota, said that "it is now clear
that the most primitive adult stem cells, even those directly from
the patient, are susceptible to immune attack." According to CQ
HealthBeat, researchers also disputed a claim that adult stem cells
could treat 71 diseases. Landis said adult stem cells could treat
nine diseases (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 1/19).
Senate To Consider Own Version of Stem Cell Bill, Reaction
Senate Democrats are expected to pass a measure (S 5) identical to a
House-approved bill ( HR 3) that would expand federal funding for
embryonic stem cell research rather than consider the House version,
House and Senate aides said Friday, CQ HealthBeat reports (Wayne, CQ
HealthBeat, 1/19).
The House on Thursday voted 253-174 to approve the measure -- called
the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 -- which would expand
the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federal funding
by allowing funding for research using stem cells derived from
embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly
donated by patients (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report,
1/12).
According to CQ HealthBeat, Democrats plan to have the Senate approve
its own measure, possibly with amendments, and send it to the House
for approval. The Senate has more support for the legislation than
the House, and the strategy would allow the Senate to vote first on a
potential veto override, CQ HealthBeat reports. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-
Iowa), has said that if Bush vetoes the measure, then he will try to
attach it to any "must-do" legislation. It is uncertain when the
Senate will begin debate on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act,
but it will not consider the measure this week (Wayne, CQ HealthBeat,
1/19). Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on Friday at the hearing said to the
researchers, "We've just got to wake up on this and untie your
hands." Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said the Senate is "in close range
of overturning a presidential veto."
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said, "Let's make sure we understand the
dividing line" (Dunham, Reuters, 1/19). He added, "Some of us very
earnestly believe life begins at conception. That position has to be
respected."
Specter has called on embryonic stem cell supporters to "organize a
million person march" in Washington, D.C., "loudly enough to be heard
on the second floor of the living quarters of the White House"
(Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 1/19).
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