Stem Cell Research

News items are listed in reverse chronological order.

Last updated: April 23, 2009 12:39

OPINION: Obama’s Embryonic Stem Research Proposal ‘Not Bold Enough’

National Partnership for Women & Families
April 23, 2009

Although the Obama administration's announcement of draft guidelines for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research "is a significant improvement" over former President George W. Bush's more restrictive policy, the new proposal "is not bold enough and will continue to deny federal financing to some potentially promising research," a New York Times editorial states [4-23-09]. The Times reports that Obama’s proposal would allow federal funding "only on stem cell lines created from surplus embryos at fertility clinics but not on lines created in the laboratory to study particular diseases." Still, unlike Bush's restrictions, Obama's proposal would allow federally financed researchers to study embryonic stem cell lines that might be created in the future...|MORE

Reuters
3/9/09

President Obama Ends Bush Ban on Stem Cell Research, fulfilling key campaign promise

This morning President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research on Monday, angering abortion opponents but cheering those who believe the study could produce treatments for many diseases.

The decision was a clear repudiation of the approach taken by Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush. U.S. law limits the use of federal money to make human stem cells, but Bush tightened the restrictions even further to include work using such cells. |MORE

|See further

Hollywood director Jerry Zucker has created and launched a stem cell ad aimed at President Bush's veto threats of the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act overwhelmingly passed June 8th by the US House of Representatives.  It has been posted on YouTube for your viewing pleasure: YouTube - The Politics of Stem Cell Research

What are "stem cells" -- In layman's terms this New York Times article explains it clearly:

Stem cells are how we all begin: undifferentiated cells that go on to develop into any of the more than 200 types of cell the adult human body holds. |MORE

In “Faith, Compassion, and Stem Cell Research” (first aired March 2007) Rabbi Dennis S. Ross, Director of Concerned Clergy for Choice, underscored the vital importance of stem cell research by providing a clear portrait of the importance of this endeavor to people suffering terribly from currently intractable medical afflictions. His delineation of the moral imperative of "bringing comfort and healing to those in need of treatment" is totally compelling.
Religious leaders from all the major western faiths turn to embryonic stem cell research for the hope it offers to people suffering from Parkinson's disease, fyi for stem celljuvenile diabetes, serious burns, blindness and other life-threatening and life-altering medical conditions. "Stem Cell Research: A Study and Advocacy Toolkit for Clergy" describes the medical, ethical, policy and religious support for this promising field of medical research. For a complimentary electronic copy of the Toolkit, please email Concerned Clergy for Choice.