Scientists Await Action From Obama To Reverse Bush Policies On Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 20 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Both supporters and opponents of stem cell research continue to anticipate President Obama's expected move to lift federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research that former President George W. Bush implemented in 2001, the Washington Post reports. Although the restrictions were "welcomed by those who believe that destroying human embryos is immoral," they have been criticized by many scientists for "severely hindering research on hundreds of new cell lines" developed since the ban was issued. Many observers expected Obama to lift the ban during his first week in office, and the delay has made some proponents of embryonic stem cell research uneasy, the Post reports. George Daley, a leading stem cell scientist at Children's Hospital Boston, said, "Everyone is waiting with bated breath. We're all waiting to breathe a huge sigh of relief."

Top Obama adviser David Axelrod said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday" this week that the president is "considering" an executive order to lift the ban. White House spokesperson Reid Cherlin wrote in an e-mail response to questions about Obama's plans, "The president made it clear that increasing stem cell research is a priority for his administration, and he'll be acting soon to reverse restrictions on this critical science." Amy Comstock Rick of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research -- which has been leading the lobbying effort to lift the restrictions -- said, "The word the president is 'considering' is too vague for me," adding that if "'considering' means 'reconsidering,' we would be very upset." Meanwhile, Congress also is expected to become involved in the debate through legislation that would aim to prevent any future president from reinstating the restrictions, the Post reports. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said, "We need to codify the opening up of the research so it doesn't turn into a Ping-Pong ball of administrations." She noted that the legislation could also address the Dickey-Wicker amendment, which bans federal funding of research involving human embryos.

In anticipation of the president's decision, officials at the National Institutes of Health are preparing guidelines that would be necessary to begin funding embryonic stem cell research. The guidelines will address, among other issues, whether funding should be limited to embryonic stem cells from unused embryos donated by fertility clinic patients. "We want to be able to move as quickly as possible," Story Landis, head of NIH's stem cell task force, said. Landis added that officials are "assuming that what we will be asked to do is develop guidelines for stem cell lines derived from embryos produced for reproductive purposes in excess of need." Proponents of the research hope for more open-ended guidelines, which would allow research on stem cells derived using other methods. However, broader guidelines "would make the move even more controversial," the Post reports.

Landis said she believes that NIH could approve the first supplemental grants for studies of new cell lines -- beyond the 21 existing cell lines allowed under current rules -- within four months and the first new grants within six to nine months. Critics of the Bush administration's restrictions say that the 21 existing stem cell lines have many limitations -- such as defects that could make them harmful to implant in people -- and that newly developed lines could provide insight into specific conditions like Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and diabetes. Opponents of the research argue that embryonic stem cell research is unnecessary because of advancements involving adult stem cells and the ability to turn adults cells into cells that appear to have the same properties as embryonic cells. David Christensen of the Family Research Council said that the Obama administration would be "better served to advance" research into adult stem cells, adding, "We think the science has bypassed the debate." However, many scientists believe it is unclear which cells will "ultimately lead to the most important advances, making it crucial to continue research" on both adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells, according to the Post (Stein, Washington Post, 2/19).

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