NIH Director Zerhouni Suggests Expansion Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 18 Oct 2007 - 7:00 PDT

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NIH Director Elias Zerhouni in the summer edition of the magazine Medicine Plus, published by NIH and the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, suggested that human embryonic stem cell research be expanded, the Washington Post reports (Akers, Washington Post, 10/17).

Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research 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. Zerhouni in March during a Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee hearing on NIH funding for fiscal year 2008 said that he supports lifting restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/20).

"All avenues of research need to be pursued," Zerhouni said in the magazine article, adding, "We must continue research at all levels." However, Bush has twice vetoed bills that would have allowed federal funding for researching using new embryonic stem cell lines. Bush "has to draw the line in a different place than Dr. Zerhouni" and come from a "broader" view than that of a scientist, White House spokesperson Tony Fratto said. He added that Bush's policy accounts for "moral and religious views."

Zerhouni spokesperson John Bruklow said, "As the director of the country's primary biomedical research agency, Dr. Zerhouni believes that he serves the president, and the American people, best by providing candid scientific expertise and perspective" (Washington Post, 10/17).

The Medicine Plus article is available online (.pdf).

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