President Barack Obama is ending former President George W. Bush's limits on using federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, with advisers calling the move a clear signal that science — not political ideology — will guide the administration.
Obama was to sign an executive order on stem cells and memo on science Monday in an East Room ceremony, a long-promised move that would fulfill a campaign promise. Advisers said it was part of a broader declaration on science that would guide the administration's policies on matters ranging from renewable energy to climate change.
"I would simply say this memorandum is not concerned solely — or even specifically — with stem cell research," said Harold Varmus, chairman of the White House's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. He said it would address how the government uses science and who is advising officials across federal agencies.
Bush limited taxpayer money for embryonic stem cell research to a small number of stem cell lines that were created before Aug. 9, 2001. Many of those faced drawbacks. Hundreds more of such lines — groups of cells that can continue to propagate in lab dishes — have been created since then. Scientists say those newer lines are healthier and better suited to creating treatments for diseases, but they were largely off-limits to researchers who took federal dollars.
"We've got eight years of science to make up for," said Dr. Curt Civin, whose research allowed scientists to isolate stem cells and who now serves as the founding director of the University of Maryland Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. "Now the silly restrictions are lifted."
The proposed changes do not fund creation of new lines, nor specify which existing lines can be used. They mean that scientists, who until now have had to rely on private donations to work with these newer stem cell lines, can apply for government money for the research, just like they do for studies of gene therapy or other treatment approaches.
At the same event, the president planned to announce safeguards through the National Institutes of Health so science is protected from political interference.
"We view what happened with stem cell research in the last administration is one manifestation of failure to think carefully about how federal support of science and the use of scientific advice occurs," Varmus said.
Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can morph into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to harness them so they can create replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases — such as new insulin-producing cells for diabetics, cells that could help those with Parkinson's disease or maybe even Alzheimer's, or new nerve connections to restore movement after spinal injury.
Bush and his supporters said they were defending human life; days-old embryos — typically from fertility-clinic leftovers otherwise destined to be thrown away — are destroyed for the stem cells.
The long-promised move will allow a rush of research aimed at one day better treating, if not curing, ailments from diabetes to paralysis — research that has drawn broad support, including from notables such as Nancy Reagan, widow of the late Republican President Ronald Reagan, and the late Christopher Reeve.
The move also will highlight divisions within the Republican Party, now in the minority and lacking votes in Congress to stop Obama.
Rep. Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House, said the focus should be on the economy, not on a long-simmering debate over stem cells.
"Frankly, federal funding of embryonic stem cell research can bring on embryo harvesting, perhaps even human cloning that occurs," he said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "We don't want that. ... And certainly that is something that we ought to be talking about, but let's take care of business first. People are out of jobs."
14 comments:
The truth is this move towards science as a focus in the government is bound to come up eventually. It is obvious that the republican party will not support this due to conservative and religious beliefs. The possibility of stem cell research leading to cloning and other such experiments is definitely frightening. However, the world will continue to progress in technology and science. I am a bit biased to the fact that the economy should be the main focus right now.
I think that it is a foolhardy action to fund stem cell research in the middle of the economic crisis. While it is true that this research may result in new treatments for diseases that have long devastated our society, it will be to no avail if the people needing treatment cannot afford it. Many Americans are underinsured, especially those in their early twenties. Many boomers are also finding that their health insurance is inadequate. When the people who need stem cell treatment can afford it, then it will be time to advance research. But doing it now is not a very wise decision.
I agree that Obama should be more focused on the economy than things such as stem cell research. This topic, however, it has intrigued me to research the original bill and veto. I really respect Bush's point of view. He said, "If this bill were to become law, American taxpayers would, for the first time in our history, be compelled to fund the deliberate destruction of human embryos, and I'm not going to allow it." We must be careful that our research to enhance human life does not destroy human life in the process.
That Obama wants to further the research on embryonic stem cells is amazing, non-the-less he should be more concerened with the state of our economy than genetic research. He should be thinking up plans of how they would be able to get the economy going again.
I think it's a good idea to allow more spending on stem cell research because of the opportunities in medical research it creates. Finding a way to cure a disease or repair a paralyzed body is just amazing to think of in my opinion.
I appreciate what President Obama is doing for all scientist in the nation, but at the Genetics Conference I attended said, "They have found another way so that they can still do the experiments needed for an "embryo" while still following the law. What the used was a single strand of hair. As I recall it the strand of hair theory is more affective and quicker while still receiving money needed and going by the law. Mean while, the things that an embryo can cure or do research on is fantastic. They can grow more and more embryos just from one. Which is good so young not even fully formed babies will not be killed in the process. An embryo can grow forever and ever, but they couldn't use it until now. So I hope the theories that the scientist have made are true and not just another false statement in order to start cloning and lead to a gigantic fail in the United States.
While having more open reserch laws and funding will make science move alot faster and potentially bring about cures and aids for many of todays illnesses much sooner than with close laws, there are also major arguments to come up. Obviously, the major argument in science reserch these days is with stem cells, clones, when killing a lab baby is considered murder, and related topics. With fewer restrictions on scientists and funding the stem cell research will take off, but the whole point of the laws and restrictions was to prevent immoral science from being conducted and to keep studies from bringing about changes in known science before we are capable of realising the reprocussions. Without the previouse restrictions careful watch will have to be kept on the scientists and researchers in order to keep studies from getting out of hand.
I am glad that Obama is releasing the restriction on stem cell research. Now we can regenerate body parts and get rid of baldness. I think that now we can find cures or help people with certain diseases without restrictions from the government.
Finally! I am so happy that Obama is going to actually lift the limits on federal funding for stem cell research! I hope that advances are made soon, because for the people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's (and others), government funded research could help find a cure and better people's lives.
What a waste of federal dollars. Embryonic stem cell research? No thanks, the doctor hasn't said anything about embryonic stem cells in recent check ups, so i'll assume mine are just fine. I think to spend all this money on something so insignifigant is irresponsible. However its a diffent thing if you're looking for cures for diabetes and so on.
WOW!!! Are they seriously debating over stem cells research? The economy, I believe, should be the first priority of this nation!!!
Honestly, I don't know what to say about this.However, i do believe that stem cell research is absolutely wrong. I mean they try to make it seem okay when thir resources are from fertility clinics that are destined to be thrown away. It just seems so much more to me than just some cells that will mend the wounds of genetic disease. Embryonic cells are the beginning stages of life. I believe God created a purpose for them on this earth, and we as a nation are not worthy of tampering with such power.
I think that what Obama did was good. Stem cells could be really helpful in helping to cure diseases. It is a touchy subject with some people though because they believe that the embryo is a living human being. To me it seems like since the cell doesn't have feelings or thoughts, it's only alive in the scientific sense of the word and not in any other way.
i dont understand how bushes mind set could be considered as defending human life. if throwing away stem cells that could be turned into children is not inhumane, i dont understand how using stem cells for scientific research is. o well i guess it is just my opinion but i think obama is right. this is the right decision.
This blog is interesting because of the of the way scientist can cure and research some illnesses by an embryo. Also how they are going to try to clone humans and also important organs. It is good that Obama gave the embryonic research another chance.
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