NIH Director Collins Defends Obama Administration Policy On Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 24 Mar 2010 - 5:00 PDT


In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post about a recent article on embryonic stem cell research, NIH Director Francis Collins writes that he is "concerned that readers might come away ... confused about what is happening" at the agency. He adds that "stem cell research is progressing rapidly, thanks to President Obama's new policy" (Collins, Washington Post, 3/20).

The Post article reported that although the Obama administration has lifted many of President George W. Bush's restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, some researchers are finding the new ethical requirements burdensome (Women's Health Policy Report, 3/16).

Collins writes that the "number of the lines on the new NIH Stem Cell Registry -- 44 -- is already more than twice the number of the old approved lines." The new policy also eliminated a restriction on using stem cell lines created after a certain date, Collins says, adding that NIH currently "is reviewing more than 100 lines, with 230 more on the way."

He continues, "As long as the stem cell lines meet the ethical guidelines outlined in the policy, they can be used in federally funded research." Collins writes that although the "onus is on the scientists who derived the lines" to submit them to NIH, the agency "is working closely with them." In addition, the agency "set a policy allowing grantees using old lines to continue to do so for the life of their grant."

He concludes that the new policy allows for a "continually growing number" of lines to be considered, ensures that research is ethical and responsible, and "holds so much promise for patients and their families" (Washington Post, 3/20).

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