Sen. Coleman Introduces Legislation To Fund Stem Cell Research Using Altered Nuclear Transfer, Embryos That Have 'Died Naturally'

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 29 Jan 2007 - 6:00 PST

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Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) on Tuesday introduced a bill that would provide $5 billion in federal funds over 10 years for human embryonic stem cell research using cells from embryos that have "died naturally" and research using altered nuclear transfer, the AP/La Crosse Tribune reports (Frommer, AP/La Crosse Tribune, 1/24). Altered nuclear transfer involves implanting DNA from a donor's cell into a human egg that has had its nucleus removed and then stimulating the egg to divide. With this technique, scientists could prevent cells from organizing into a human embryo and still harvest embryonic stem cells, according to William Hurlbut of Stanford University, a member of the President's Council on Bioethics (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/21/06). The legislation -- called the "Hope Offered Through Principled Ethically Sound Stem Cell Research Act," or HOPE Act -- also would create a National Stem Cell Research Review Board to oversee research and create ethical and legal guidelines (AP/La Crosse Tribune, 1/24). Funds from the bill also would be used to promote adopting embryos from in vitro fertilization clinics, finding treatments for genetic medical conditions without harming embryos or fetuses, and developing procedures to match the number of embryos created in fertility clinics with the number needed for pregnancy (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1/23). Coleman on Tuesday also introduced a measure that would extend the deadline by which research on embryonic stem cell lines could be federally funded to Jan. 24, 2007 (AP/La Crosse Tribune, 1/24). Federal funding is allowed only for research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/22).

Reaction
Coleman in a statement said that Bush's policy "does not provide enough federal funding for embryonic stem cell research," adding, "I believe we can do more without crossing the ethical line of using taxpayer dollars for the destruction of human embryos." Sean Tipton, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, said it is not clear weather the HOPE Act "would allow NIH to do anything it can't already do," adding, "Sen. Coleman is looking for a political fig leaf to disguise his opposition to meaningful stem cell research." Coleman said NIH is not funding research using stem cells from embryos that have died naturally and called such stem cells the "moral equivalent of organ donation from an already-deceased adult" (Averill, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1/23). Hurlbut said the HOPE Act offers a "third way for our nation that advances the purposes of both sides," adding, "Otherwise, the science is stalled, and the conflict just deepens" (AP/La Crosse Tribune, 1/24).

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