Stem cell debate rages on

Despite growing movement by Congress to overturn the Bush ban on federal funding, opponents of such research stand firm.

By Joel B. Finkelstein, AMNews staff. June 13, 2005.

Washington -- Passage of a House bill designed to expand the availability of embryonic stem cells has done nothing to quell the controversy over such research. The issue, which divides the public and medical researchers, now moves to the Senate and ultimately could reach President Bush's desk.

The legislation's supporters argue that the hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos in the country will go to waste because of federal policy instead of being used in studies aimed at finding new treatments for chronic illnesses and degenerative diseases.

"Research has been stymied in this country, going into private hands and offshore. Research moves ahead, but not with the resources of the National Institutes of Health and without clear ethical standards," said Rep. Diana DeGette (D, Colo.) during several hours of floor debate on the legislation she helped author.

But opponents of the measure counter that stem cell research has progressed with federal funding. "We've heard for years that the promise is in embryonic stem cells. But, in fact, the research shows that it has been the adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells that have proved to be most useful," said Rep. Dave Weldon, MD (R, Fla.).

The bill, which the House passed 238-194 last month, would overturn current White House policy that bars the use of NIH funding for the study of embryonic stem cell lines established after August 2001. The legislation also would establish ethical guidelines for how cell lines are to be derived.