Detroit News Examines Support For Embryo Adoption Among Proponents, Opponents Of Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Fertility;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 23 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The Detroit News on Tuesday examined "embryo adoption," the process by which individuals and couples donate unused embryos created for fertility treatments to other families who are trying to conceive. For opponents and supporters of embryonic stem cell research, embryo adoption represents "two divergent, but equally hope-filled possibilities for frozen embryos -- human life or medical breakthroughs through human embryonic stem cell research," the News reports. Under President Bush, the federal government is "promoting embryo adoption as a family-building option," and HHS since 2002 has awarded $10.8 million in grants to mostly faith-based organizations to promote embryo adoption. Federal funding for research on embryonic stem cell lines created after 2001 is prohibited under a federal policy Bush announced that year.

There are more than 400,000 unused frozen embryos in clinics and tissue banks in the U.S., and federal studies suggest that less than 1% of frozen embryos are adopted, according to the News. Barbara Collura, executive director of Resolve -- an advocacy group for fertility issues that promotes embryo adoption -- said that embryo adoption is "one way out of many, many ways a couple could build a family" but that the organization also believes frozen embryos should be able to be donated by couples for embryonic stem cell research. The group Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research and Cures -- which supports a Michigan ballot initiative that would loosen the state's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research -- also is promoting the idea that embryonic stem cell research and embryo adoption can co-exist. Marcia Baum, executive director of MCSCRC, said, "One does not in any way negate the other. There's enough (frozen embryos) for both."

The News also profiled a Michigan couple who gave birth to a son after embryo adoption (Kozlowski, Detroit News, 10/21).

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