Bills would OK federal funds for more stem cell lines

Meanwhile, states are looking for ways to create a friendlier environment for such research.

By Joel B. Finkelstein, AMNews staff. April 18, 2005.

Washington -- Some lawmakers would like to see the federal government change its tune on stem cell research funding.

Bipartisan congressional legislation was recently introduced in the House and Senate that would allow federal funding for more stem cell lines, while imposing criteria designed to ensure that strict protocols are followed in obtaining and handling the embryos from which the cells would be taken.

Federal money is important not only as a reliable source of funding but also to provide appropriate oversight and protections, said Eric Ruby, MD, a Massachusetts pediatrician. Dr. Ruby became involved in efforts to increase government support for such studies after his son was hit by a car and paralyzed.

"As a physician, this is important on a professional level," he said. "But as a father, there is nothing worse than not being able to get your child healthy."

AMA policy supports therapeutic stem cell research, but not reproductive research. But the Association also recognizes that some physicians might have moral objections to such research.

There is significant public backing for opening up federal funds to more stem cell studies. For example, in a March poll conducted by the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, 59% of those surveyed favored embryonic stem cell research, and 33% were opposed to it. The coalition advocates for regenerative medicine research, including that on stem cells.

The public support has helped drive a concerted effort by lawmakers, researchers and patient advocates to reverse Bush administration policy limiting federal study funds to stem cell lines that had been established before August 2001. At that time, there were thought to be 78 lines that qualified, but many of those lines have proven to be tainted. Some experts contend that all of them are of relatively poor quality compared with what can be obtained with current techniques.