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Stem Cell Research

Embryonic stem cells have tremendous potential to relieve human suffering.
Initial research indicates that embryonic stem cells hold enormous promise in the prevention, treatment or cure of many diseases.1 Adult stem cells can develop into only a few types of cells and successfully treat a limited number of diseases, including blood disorders, leukemia, and lymphoma. However, because embryonic stem cells can develop into nearly any kind of cell, they have the potential to prevent, treat or cure a much wider variety of diseases. Also, embryonic stem cells are more easily grown than adult stem cells, providing a greater base for research and possible therapies.2
One hundred million Americans suffer from conditions that could be treated with embryonic stem cell therapy.3
Diabetes, heart disease, many forms of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and glaucoma afflict millions of Americans and are believed to be among the diseases which embryonic stem cells could possibly treat.
Embryonic stem cells not used for research often go to waste.
Embryonic stem cells used for research come from in-vitro fertilization clinics with the informed consent of donors.4 These cells are the byproducts of in-vitro fertilization and do not come from eggs fertilized in a woman’s body. The embryos used are customarily four to five days old and consist of approximately 50 to 150 cells. There are currently about 400,000 unused frozen embryos in fertility clinics in the U.S.5
Scientists are already getting positive returns from stem cell research.
Privately-supported scientists have developed self-replicating, insulin producing cells from embryonic stem cells. If scientists can figure out how to get these cells to respond to blood sugar levels, they could become a treatment for diabetes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have found they can stop the growth of specific skin cells in mice. If this process can be replicated in human skin cells, it could be used to treat cells damaged by burns or skin cancer. Also, privately-funded scientists have found stem cell therapies to improve the visual acuity of rats with the genetic eye disease AMD.6
Anti-choice policymakers have restricted federal embryonic stem cell research.
Anti-choice policymakers have stifled life-saving stem cell research because they claim that the extraction of stem cells from discarded embryos is akin to abortion. As a result, the Bush Administration has severely restricted funding for embryonic stem cell research. Embryos that could be used for research are now discarded as the byproduct of in-vitro fertilization. Yet stem cell research can be carried out in an ethical manner. The ethical issues that surround stem cell research are not unique. Existing medical ethics policies—such as human subject protections and cell line use in laboratories—can be adapted for use of stem cells.7
Embryonic stem cell research has strong bipartisan support.
Polls show that Americans strongly favor embryonic stem cell research. Three out of four Americans—including 71 percent of Republicans, 80 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of independent voters—support embryonic stem cell research.8 When presented with a list of diseases that could be cured through stem cell therapy and informed that the embryos used for research would otherwise be discarded, voter support for embryonic stem cell research increases.9 In the 2006 election, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment protecting embryonic stem cell research.
States are promoting life-saving stem cell research.
A number of states have devoted funds to stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research: California ($3 billion), Connecticut ($100 million), Illinois ($10 million), Maryland ($15 million) and New Jersey ($380 million).
The Stem Cell Research Act is based on recent Maryland law.
Maryland’s stem cell research law, enacted in 2006, was crafted in a bipartisan manner and supports research involving both embryonic and adult stem cells. The law:
  • Establishes a Stem Cell Research Fund which accepts both government and private money.
  • Gives decision-making authority to an independent commission.
  • Uses an independent scientific peer review committee to recommend grant-worthy research projects.
  • Mandates approval of all research projects by in institutional review board to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in such investigations.
  • Bans the sale of stem cells and prohibits human cloning.
Endnotes
  1. Office of Medical Development, Stanford University Medical Center, “Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine: Transforming the Way We Heal,” 2006.
  2. National Institutes of Health, “Stem Cell Basics,” October 6, 2006.
  3. Gareth Cook, “Senators Call to Ease Stem Cell Restrictions,” Boston Globe, June 2, 2004.
  4. “Stem Cell Basics.”
  5. Stem Cell Research Foundation, “What are the sources of Stem Cells?” 2006.
  6. National Institutes of Health, “Highlights of Stem Cell Research,” November 8, 2006.
  7. American Association for the Advancement of Science, “Stem Cell Research and Applications,” November 1999.
  8. Ipsos-Reid poll, August 10-12, 2001.
  9. Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, “GOP the Religion-Friendly Party but Stem Cell Research May Help Democrats,” August 24, 2004.
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