Stem cell scientists fear election impact

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Last Updated: July 29. 2010 1:00AM
Stem cell scientists fear election impact
Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau


Lansing -- All but two of the gubernatorial candidates in Tuesday's primary oppose stem cell research, raising concerns that scientific efforts will be ratcheted back even before they take root in the state.

Voters two years ago approved a constitutional amendment allowing the research, but the Senate has passed a package of bills calling for reporting requirements and regulations, which researchers oppose.

Supporters of stem cell research say there's no need for additional limits other than those contained in the constitutional amendment. Backers of the proposed legislation contend it is intended to clarify the ballot proposal.

Sean Morrison, director of the University of Michigan's Center for Stem Cell Biology, said opposition from state leaders could create implementation and image problems.

"We are very concerned," Morrison said. "People voted to constitutionally protect this type of research. It would be an open question if we get a governor who is opposed to this, whether the governor and the Legislature could find a way to impede this research."

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100729/POLITICS02/7290418/Stem-cell-scientists-fear-election-impact#ixzz0v3GaEANq

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Those sonofabitches never give up, do they?

[gateley]

1. I've heard a medical researcher raving about the results they're getting with

one's OWN stem cells. Heard a girl who had been in a car accident, given the diagnosis paralyzed for life, went to (of course) another country and received treatment. It wasn't a miracle cure but she was slowly recovering and when I heard her, was able to stand and walk.

I don't know if that's legal here or not, seem to recall some clinical trials or testing? but wouldn't that shut these people up? Or can't we use our own bodies to treat ourselves?

[Igel]

5. The terminology is fuzzy.

I think it's made fuzzy on purpose. Perhaps not.

The legislation deals with HESCs--human embryonic stem cells. Other kinds of stem cells can be used in research, no problem.

The fuzziness is in the media where adult (and other) stem cell advances are just called "stem cell research" and then the ban on HESCs is decried. Completely different kinds of things, of course, but you tend to assume that the second kind of research is related to the first. Or there are advances in stem cell research overseas--often non-HESC research--and then the US's ban was brought up.

HESC research, in spite of private research in the US and state-funded research abroad, hasn't done much. There's more that's been done with adult and fetal SCs, even overseas.

[gateley]

6. Thanks -

[greymattermom]

2. same problem here

Sam Brownbeck will soon be governor of Kansas and the medical school is trying to start a cancer center.

[HillbillyBob]

3. That is a good reason to leave the state

I have some relatives there who cannot understand why the rest of Ks votes against their better interests..then again I have been wondering about that since runnyraygun about the rest of the idiots that keep voting for pigs.

[SILVER__FOX52]

4. I wish these ignorant Christian, fools..........

would stop interferring with God's stem cell work. Those demons!