By Kim McGuire
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/24/2010
ST. LOUIS ? President Barack Obama's 2009 executive order that lifted some stem cell research restrictions should be codified into law so future lawmakers cannot undo it, a national stem cell research advocate said Saturday.
Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Florida-based Genetics Policy Institute, told about 138 people gathered for a stem cell summit here that more work is needed on the political front to keep stem cell research foes from blocking scientific advancements.
When President George W. Bush ordered in 2001 the ban of federal funding for the creation of new embryonic stem cell lines, it set research back years, Siegel said. But now science is riding a "tsunami of support," he said.
"Foes of this research are eventually going to lose," Siegel said. "Eventually. But in the meantime people are dying right now. They're still suffering."
Siegel was the keynote speaker at the Hope Summit, sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, a statewide stem cell research advocacy group.
Donn Rubin, the chairman, said the conference was meant to bring together people interested in promoting the research, and help others learn more about it.
Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can morph into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to harness them to create replacement tissues to treat diseases such as diabetes and help with spinal injuries.
Opponents say scientists should instead pursue cures using only adult stem cells, which are easily obtained from sources such as human skin without raising ethical concerns.
In 2006, Missouri was at the forefront of the national debate when voters approved Amendment 2 which protects embryonic stem cell research while banning human cloning.
"You guys are really legendary for winning a fight in a really tough neighborhood," said Don Reed, a California stem cell supporter.
RELATED LINKS
bullet Keep up on technical news with our Life & Tech blog
bullet Get more science and tech news
Reed and other out-of-state advocates recapped recent political battles such as one playing out at the University of Nebraska, where regents recently voted to reject a proposal to restrict stem cell research at university facilities.
Summit attendees also discussed new developments and their impact on the debate.
One such development took place in 2007, when scientists manipulated adult stem cells to behave like embryonic stem cells.
Known as induced pluripotent stem cells, they are considered a major scientific breakthrough and could be the key to developing new drugs to help combat several debilitating diseases, said Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, a Washington University scientist who studies bone disease.
Opponents of embryonic stem cell research say such developments should eliminate the need to work with embryos.
"But it doesn't seem to be, which is ironic," said Jaci Winship, executive director of Missourians Against Human Cloning. "It just doesn't make sense to take part in creating human life to destroy it."
While acknowledging the ethical debate, Teitelbaum said scientists need as many tools as they can get, and that includes embryonic stem cells.
He cited recent developments that show how stem cells could help in the treatment of heart attacks, macular degeneration and Parkinson's disease.
"So it's very clear that the promise of this tool is really enormous," he said.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/24/2010
ST. LOUIS ? President Barack Obama's 2009 executive order that lifted some stem cell research restrictions should be codified into law so future lawmakers cannot undo it, a national stem cell research advocate said Saturday.
Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Florida-based Genetics Policy Institute, told about 138 people gathered for a stem cell summit here that more work is needed on the political front to keep stem cell research foes from blocking scientific advancements.
When President George W. Bush ordered in 2001 the ban of federal funding for the creation of new embryonic stem cell lines, it set research back years, Siegel said. But now science is riding a "tsunami of support," he said.
"Foes of this research are eventually going to lose," Siegel said. "Eventually. But in the meantime people are dying right now. They're still suffering."
Siegel was the keynote speaker at the Hope Summit, sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, a statewide stem cell research advocacy group.
Donn Rubin, the chairman, said the conference was meant to bring together people interested in promoting the research, and help others learn more about it.
Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can morph into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to harness them to create replacement tissues to treat diseases such as diabetes and help with spinal injuries.
Opponents say scientists should instead pursue cures using only adult stem cells, which are easily obtained from sources such as human skin without raising ethical concerns.
In 2006, Missouri was at the forefront of the national debate when voters approved Amendment 2 which protects embryonic stem cell research while banning human cloning.
"You guys are really legendary for winning a fight in a really tough neighborhood," said Don Reed, a California stem cell supporter.
RELATED LINKS
bullet Keep up on technical news with our Life & Tech blog
bullet Get more science and tech news
Reed and other out-of-state advocates recapped recent political battles such as one playing out at the University of Nebraska, where regents recently voted to reject a proposal to restrict stem cell research at university facilities.
Summit attendees also discussed new developments and their impact on the debate.
One such development took place in 2007, when scientists manipulated adult stem cells to behave like embryonic stem cells.
Known as induced pluripotent stem cells, they are considered a major scientific breakthrough and could be the key to developing new drugs to help combat several debilitating diseases, said Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, a Washington University scientist who studies bone disease.
Opponents of embryonic stem cell research say such developments should eliminate the need to work with embryos.
"But it doesn't seem to be, which is ironic," said Jaci Winship, executive director of Missourians Against Human Cloning. "It just doesn't make sense to take part in creating human life to destroy it."
While acknowledging the ethical debate, Teitelbaum said scientists need as many tools as they can get, and that includes embryonic stem cells.
He cited recent developments that show how stem cells could help in the treatment of heart attacks, macular degeneration and Parkinson's disease.
"So it's very clear that the promise of this tool is really enormous," he said.