March 9, 2001
AAAS Urges President Bush to Fund Stem Cell Research
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) March 6 sent a letter to President Bush expressing its strong support for federal funding of research using human stem cells from embryonic, fetal and adult sources. "It would be tragic," the letter states, "to squander this opportunity to pursue work that can potentially help millions of Americans in need."
According to the letter, signed by Mary L. Good, chair of the AAAS Board, Peter H. Raven, president of AAAS, and Floyd E. Bloom, president-elect of AAAS, the discovery of stem cells, capable of giving rise to virtually any tissue type, could be the most significant scientific and medical breakthrough in the past decade. The result of such research could lead to treatments and/or cures for some of America's most degenerative illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and heart disease. In addition, the study of stem cells could contribute to the understanding of birth defects and the development of new drugs targeted at specific diseases. The AAAS officers expressed their wish that government policy will not foreclose the hope that the many sufferers of disease and disability have vested in stem cell research.
The letter acknowledges that there is a common misconception that the use of adult stem cells - as opposed to embryonic and fetal stem cells - will be sufficient for research. The AAAS notes that, based on current knowledge, many in the scientific community doubt that adult stem cells will be as effective as other stem cells in treating diseases.
AAAS also sent to the president a November 1999 AAAS report on stem cell research, which recommends that "federal funding for stem cell research is necessary in order to promote investment in this promising line of research, to encourage sound public policy, and to foster public confidence in the conduct of such research." The report also addresses ethical concerns raised by the use of embryonic and fetal stem cells and concludes that it is possible to conduct embryonic stem cell research in a fully ethical manner.
According to the report, the case for public funding is made even stronger by the amount of stem cell research taking place in the private sector without public oversight. Public funding, the reports states, would help to ensure that the research is closely monitored and meets ethical standards.
Information: Dave Moore, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.
