August 10, 2001

DeGette, Ramstad Offer Bill To Codify NIH Stem Cell Guidelines

Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) Aug. 2 introduced legislation that would permit NIH to fund research using human pluripotent stem cells from embryos and fetal tissue. H.R. 2747 gives NIH the authority to conduct or support the research in accordance with guidelines finalized by NIH in August 2000.

The DeGette-Ramstad bill calls for NIH to conduct a study on the current state of knowledge on the biological properties of, and differences between, stem cells obtained from embryos, fetal tissues, and adult tissues, and the significance of these differences for research and medicine.

The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to commission the Institute of Medicine to:

• assess the current state of knowledge about therapies, including somatic cell nuclear transfer and therapies using pharmaceuticals, that may be used to address immunological rejection of stem cells and differentiated cells and tissue derived from stem cells;
• compare the potential therapeutic value of such therapies; and
• identify safeguards that could be implemented to prevent the use of human embryos created by somatic cell nuclear transfer for purposes other than the development of therapies for diseases.

H.R. 2747 also would establish a Biomedical Advisory Commission, appointed by the President and Congress, to study bioethical issues arising from emerging biomedical research, including the ethical, social, legal, and regulatory issues concerning such research and its clinical applications. This commission would be a successor the National Bioethics Advisory Commission, the charter for which is scheduled to expire Oct. 3, 2001.

Information: Dave Moore, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.