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Hooray for Dr. Zerhouni! This entry was posted on 3/20/2007 6:39 AM and is filed under stem cells,NIH. Some things require little -- if any comment. In this case, a brief remark is all that's needed. "HOORAY FOR DR. ZERHOUNI!!! HUZZAH!!!" WASHINGTON - Lifting the ban on taxpayer funding of research on new stem cells from fertilized embryos would better serve both science and the nation, the chief of the National Institutes of Health told lawmakers Monday. Allowing the ban to remain in place, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni told a Senate panel, leaves his agency fighting "with one hand tied behind our back." "It is clear today that American science will be better served - the nation will be better served - if we allow our scientists to have access to more cell lines," Zerhouni told two members of the Senate health appropriations subcommittee during a hearing on the NIH's proposed 2008 budget. The NIH, with a nearly $29 billion annual budget, is the main federal agency that conducts and funds medical research. Zerhouni's comments appear to be his strongest yet in support of lifting President Bush's 2001 ban that restricted government funding to research using only embryonic stem cell lines then in existence. There are just 21 such lines now in use. Thanks again, Dr. Z. I imagine those of us who might benefit from this research will likely have to "hang in there" until a new administration in 2009. But thank you for your courage in speaking out on our behalf. Liked Disliked No Opinion Trackbacks ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn