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This is a test ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathleen Cochran" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 1:04 AM Subject: Re: ESCR still restricted > This is disappointing...a bit scary, too, that this vital research should > depend upon there being enough infertile couples willing and able to > undertake the difficulty and expense of in vitro fertilization. However, I > believe that the minute a breakthrough occurs in treating disease with > stem > cells, opposition to techniques like somatic cell transfer will evaporate. > > I just wish they would stop using the term "embryo"! > > Kathleen > > 2009/4/17 rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> > >> US lifts some restrictions on embryo stem cells >> >> by LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard, Ap Medical >> Writer >> - 53 mins ago >> WASHINGTON - When President Barack Obama eased limits on taxpayer-funded >> embryonic stem cell research, the big question became how far scientists >> could go. Friday, the government answered: They must use cells culled >> from >> fertility clinic embryos that otherwise would be thrown away. >> Draft guidelines released by the National Institutes of Health reflect >> rules with broad congressional support, excluding more controversial >> sources >> such as cells derived from embryos created just for experiments. >> "We think this will be a huge boost for the science," said Acting NIH >> Director Raynard Kington. "This was the right policy for the agency at >> this >> point in time." >> The limit will disappoint some researchers who wanted to use a broader >> variety of cells. But it still means that perhaps hundreds more stem cell >> lines will be available for government-funded study soon. >> "Some groups and scientists have wanted the administration to go further. >> But we are happy to have this progress after such a long period of >> limited >> opportunities to pursue this very important line of research," said Alan >> Leshner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. >> The guidelines are "a reasonable compromise based on where the science >> stands now," said Dr. Sean Morrison, director of the University of >> Michigan >> Center for Stem Cell Biology. "We may need to revisit some of the details >> down the road depending on how the science develops." >> Scientists are trying to harness embryonic stem cells - master cells that >> can morph into any cell of the body - to one day create replacement >> tissues >> and better treat, possibly even cure, ailments ranging from diabetes to >> Parkinson's to spinal cord injury. >> Culling those stem cells - which can propagate indefinitely in lab >> dishes - >> destroys a days-old embryo, a result strongly opposed by many on moral >> grounds. So the Bush administration had limited taxpayer-supported >> research >> to a small number of embryonic stem cell "lines" or groups already in >> existence as of August 2001. >> Last month, Obama lifted that restriction, widening the field. But he >> left >> it to the NIH to set ethics guidelines determining which cell lines now >> will >> qualify for government funding. >> Federal law forbids using taxpayer money to create or destroy an embryo. >> At >> issue here are rules for working with cells that initially were created >> using private money. >> Many scientists had hoped the guidelines would allow use of stem cells >> derived from embryos created just for science, perhaps even using cloning >> techniques that could make them genetically customized for a potential >> recipient. >> But the NIH instead proposed limiting new grants to research using stem >> cells originally derived from fertility-clinic leftovers, the extra >> embryos >> that couples wind up not needing and thus often are thrown out. >> That's in line with legislation passed by the last Congress but never >> signed by President George W. Bush. Besides, Kington noted, no one has >> yet >> created a stem cell line using cloning techniques. >> "There's compelling broad support both in the scientific community and >> the >> public at large" for the fertility-clinic approach, Kington said. "There >> is >> not similar broad support for using other sources at this time." >> The guidelines also demand that the woman or couple who donate the >> original >> embryo give proper informed consent. There are other options for such >> donors, such as donating the embryo to another infertile woman, and all >> must >> be explained. Also, the donation must be voluntary, without pressure from >> scientists. >> Those donation practices are standard today, but they weren't just a few >> years ago - and Michigan's Morrison said some of the old Bush-approved >> lines >> may not meet the new standards. That poses a grave question, he said: Can >> work based on those older lines continue? >> Friday's guidelines also clearly forbid some types of research using >> human >> embryonic stem cells, such as mixing them with embryos from monkeys and >> other primates. >> Last year, the NIH funded about $88 million in research using embryonic >> stem cells, Kington said. It's unclear how much more the agency may spend >> under the new policy. >> The NIH will accept public comments on the guidelines for a month, and >> issue final rules by early July. >> >> Rayilyn Brown >> Director AZNPF >> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation >> [log in to unmask] >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: >> [log in to unmask] >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn >> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn