Home Government Affairs Newsroom Meetings Publications	Shopping Cart Site Map

AAMC Encouraged By Bush Stem Cell Decision But Questions Availability and Quality of Cell Lines

Press Release

Contact: Retha Sherrod
(202) 828-0975

For Immediate Release

Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., President of the Association of American Medical Colleges, issued the following statement on the Administration's announcement that it will limit federal funding of embryonic stem cell research:

More AAMC Resources on Stem Cell Research:

Washington, D.C., August 10, 2001 - "The Association of American Medical Colleges commends President Bush for his thoughtful deliberations on the question of whether federal funding should be used to support embryonic stem cell research. While we are encouraged that the President has allowed limited federal funding for this vital area of scientific discovery, the conditions he has placed on this funding may unnecessarily impede the full promise of research using embryonic stem cells.

"The therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cells is remarkable - arguably more remarkable than any previous advance in the history of medical science. These cells have the unique potential to differentiate into any human cell type and offer real hope of life-affirming treatments for diabetes, damaged heart tissue, arthritis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS and spinal cord injuries, to name but a few examples. There is also the possibility that these cells could be used to create more complex, vital organs, such as kidneys, livers, or even hearts.

"We recognize the significant ethical issues that are raised about embryonic stem cell research and we respect the view of those who oppose such research, including some in our own medical school community. However, we are persuaded otherwise by what we believe is an overriding consideration, namely, that it would be tragic to lose the unique potential for alleviating human suffering afforded by studying stem cells obtained from embryos destined to be discarded in any case."

"The academic medicine community is eager to work with the President, and his new council to move embryonic stem cell research forward under appropriate federal guidelines. We urge the Administration to work quickly to guarantee the integrity of and access to the stem cell lines the National Institutes of Health has identified. Our goal remains to ensure that the tremendous scientific and medical benefits of stem cells may one day become available to the millions of American patients who so desperately need them."

# # #

The Association of American Medical Colleges represents the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools; the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools; some 400 major teaching hospitals, including 74 Veterans Administration medical centers; 91 academic and professional societies representing over 100,000 faculty members; and the nation's 67,000 medical students and 102,000 residents.