The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a hearing on May 22 to discuss stem cell research. The issue has been a salient issue for Congress since the President’s announcement in 2001 that federal funds would be provided for research on roughly 70 existing human embryonic stem cell lines.
There are two types of cloning—reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning involves the development of a complete individual from a single body cell, such as the creation of the sheep Dolly. Therapeutic cloning creates embryonic stem cells that are genetic matches to the patient for the purpose of repairing damaged and diseased tissue.
Speaking on behalf of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Elias Zerhouni stated that in FY2002, the NIH spent approximately $11 million for human embryonic stem cell research. He noted that NIH is “working hard to promote stem cell research, based on recommendations received from the research community by the NIH Stem Cell Task Force.” Dr. Zerhouni also added that the administration’s policy “has provided us the opportunity to be at the forefront of the latest groundbreaking discoveries in the culturing, characterization and differentiation of stem cells.”
Dr. John Kessler of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine said that “although the potential for using human embryonic stem cells for regeneration of damaged or diseased organs is truly remarkable, it is clear that there are still significant technical and biological issues to be addressed before embryonic stem cell therapies can be instituted.” He added that “obstacles that delay the development of stem cell therapies are counterproductive for all Americans.”
Agreeing with Dr. Kessler, Dr. Roy Ogle of the University of Virginia Medical School explained that “the new science of regenerative medicine has been born from a convergence of stem cell biology, gene therapy, tissue engineering, and materials science.” He continued by saying “we will be able to repair and replace diseased and defective cells and tissues, and deliver genes and drugs in ways we could scarcely imagine 10 years ago.” According to Dr. Ogle, “providing both increased funding and many more [stem] cell lines…is critical to the future of healthcare, science, education and the biotechnology industry in the United States.”
Jim Cordy of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research stated that he is “one of the many millions of Americans who will benefit from biomedical research.” He added, “Time is running out for…Americans with permanently disabling, and ultimately fatal, diseases and conditions such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, and Huntington’s.” He concluded by saying the “potential reward” of stem cell research “is so great, it seems clear to me that we must pursue embryonic stem cell technology with all speed possible.”
