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President Obama is reportedly set to sign an executive order Monday lifting the Bush administration ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The move is being heralded by scientists, who charge the limit has hobbled research efforts that hold the promise of new treatments and even cures for spinal injuries and debilitating disease such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer.

CNN reports that the White House is planning an 11 a.m. ceremony to repeal President George W. Bush's executive order limiting federal funding to research on 21 cell lines extracted from embryos prior to Aug. 9, 2001. Researchers say that most – if not all – of those lines have been compromised or contaminated and are no longer suitable for research. 

Scientists have protested the ban since it took effect; even Bush's own director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Elias Zerhouni, split with the former president on the issue, charging that the ban hampered efforts to find new medical breakthroughs.

"It is very clear from my point of view that the current cell lines will not be sufficient to do the research we want to do," the former NIH chief testified during a 2007 Senate hearing. "It is clear today that American science will be better served and the nation would be better served if we let our scientists have access to more cell lines."

Opponents of embryonic stem cell research claim that it's immoral and unethical to spend taxpayer dollars for research that involves destroying embryos. Critics also argue that adult stem cells negate the need for embryonic stem cell research. But scientists believe that embryonic stem cells offer the most hope for treating a host of ills and injuries, because, unlike adult stem cells, they can morph into almost any type of tissue.

"They do not hold scientific water," Zerhouni testified about claims that adult stem cells are sufficient. "It is in the best interest of our scientists, our science, our country that we find ways—that the nation finds a way—to allow the science to go full speed on both adult and embryonic stem cell research."

Bush vetoed legislation that would have lifted the lid and freed federal funds for expanded research on stem cells extracted from frozen embryos set to be discarded by in vitro fertility clinics with the consent of donors. The measures established ethical and reporting guidelines governing the research, which the NIH has been drafting in anticipation of the limit lift, according to the Washington Post. In addition to Obama's expected move, look for the Democratic-controlled Congress to pass legislation designed to block future presidents from imposing such a restriction again.

President Obama speaking at a White House conference on health care reform, March 5, 2009 (via whitehouse.gov)

10 Comments

1. 1. spburt 10:04 PM 3/6/09

   So the research is SO promising but not promising enough for PRIVATE funding which was perfectly legitimate.
   
   Give me a break. Obama saves the day and the coolaid drinkers slurp it up.
   
   Yay Democracy another triumph in the downward spiral.

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2. 2. kurtotic 01:21 AM 3/7/09

   Unlike the previous commentator's perspective, I recognize that stem cell research is still in the stage where grant funded science and scientists are the backbone of stem cell research. In this phase of development, grant funded scientists are at the center of any private enterprise stem cell commercial development. Obama's reversal of Bush's policy opens the possibility of grant funding to take stem cell research to the next level.

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3. 3. USIStand 03:00 AM 3/7/09

   No one in our government knows how "American science & Our nation would be better served" (When it comes to the American people being sick, ill, or injured.) If they did they would know that there is medicine already out there that treats a lot and I truly mean a lot of Illnesses, Diseases and Injuries. I used to pay $575 a month after insurance already payed on prescription drugs. Then I found a cure for my disease in Europe that there was no cure for in the U.S.. Save Tax-payers millions of dollars or more & time by working with other countries that have already began stem cell research.

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4. 4. StemCellBlogger 09:02 AM 3/7/09

   While Embryonic stem cells (ESC) were previously thought to be more powerful than Adult Stem Cells (ASC) because they can become any cell in the body, new studies on ASC are showing that they can become virtually anything. Scientists recently turned Skin-ASC into Neuron-ASC. http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/researchers-make-nerve-cells-from-new-stem-cells-science-reuters/
   
   A decade of ESC research around the world has resulted in no human treatments & because the ESC continue to divide beyond the scientists control, they can turn into tumors. ESC also require immunosuppressive drugs, which one of the most common forms of ASC (autologous) used in treatment do not.
   Over the same decade of research, adult stem cell treatments have given thousands improved health, extended lives, helped paraplegics to walk& http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/spinal-cord-injury-sci-stem-cell-trials-japan-plays-catch-up/
   
   Gave a man with AIDs 2 years (so far) free of symptoms& http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/?s=aids+symptom+2+years
   
   Successfully improved MS & Cerebral Palsy patients, the list goes on and on&
   http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/category/victories-success-stories/
   
   ASC are already helping improve & extend the lives of patients with dozens of incurable diseases, 73 diseases when you count only US published scientific papers & well over 100 if you read all of the papers from outside the USA.
   
   Additionally, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) are ASC modified to be able to become any cell in the human body & seem to have all of the benefits of ESC without the tumor potential & with significantly less of a rejection issue; not to mention without the political & religious controversy. http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/embryonic-stem-cell-alternative-has-another-advance-ips-cells-yield-nerve-cells/
   
   And now, even the NIH is jumping into the ASC research and treatment pool.
   http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/nih-says-adult-stem-cells-are-ready-for-the-prime-time-yah-baby/
   
   I am pro-progress, research & the advancement of human knowledge. Im all for studying anything that could benefit mankind but the question is&why so much focus on ESC when both ASC & iPSC seem capable of achieving everything ESC can do with a fraction of the obstacles.
   
   The world is treating thousands successfully with ASC. Put the majority of funding and research into ASC & iPSC so we can treat the multitude of dying and debilitated Americans NOW!
   
   David Granovsky - http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com

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5. 5. embiotech 02:14 PM 3/7/09

   So, let's say Obama is successful in reversing the Bush policy regarding stem cell research. Who do you think would possibly waste their money, as hard as it is to come by, investing in research with the new proposed socialized healthcare. Research as we know it has previously been solely funded by biotech/pharma companies searching for new cures, but driven by a capitalistic financial environment. If we take away the power that a company has to recoup the costs of research, no one will bite the stem cell carrot.

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6. 6. StemCellBlogger 02:57 PM 3/7/09

   Embiotech-
   Good point with: "If we take away the power that a company has to recoup the costs of research, no one will bite the stem cell carrot"
   
   Indeed, the FDA regulates drug clearance & development so it actually costs $250-500 million & 7-12 yrs to receive FDA approval & bring a drug public. ASC treatments don't need to be made into drugs so you can't patent it or sell it exclusively & make that $250-500 mill back.
   
   $250 millon may seem like a lot of money to you & I but last year, Eli Lilly (for ex.) rang up about $3.2 billion in sales of insulins & other diabetes products. A projection is that the company's diabetes sales could grow to $4.4 billion by 2012. One source puts total yearly pharma revenue at $600 billion.
   
   Imagine that the US people (of whom the average 60 yr old takes 6-10 prescription drugs per day) caught on that ASC can treat diabetes and MS and cancer...no need for any more drugs. Goodbye $600B, goodbye pharma...
   
   The pharma companies certainly won't give up their $600 B per yr without a fight & so they spend 100's of millions on lobbying politicians & influencing public policy to be pro-ESC. This is because they know that treatments from ESC are 10-50 years away (as stated by Dr James Thomson, father of ESC research) so most likely ESC won't work in our lifetime. People waiting for ESC treatments will require continued drug use and the pharma companies can breath a sigh of relief for another generation.
   
   The hope is that the proof of the benefits of ASC from peer-reviewed scientific publications and the incredible articles of ASC victories around the world -
   http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/category/victories-success-stories/
   will wake up the US people to the potential for improved health so they don't have to deal with continuous illness throughout their lives and they can get off their addiction to prescriptions drugs.

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7. 7. DesertOne 09:43 PM 3/7/09

   The Germans used the term "Life Unworthy of Life" in 1934 when they began gassing the alleged "feeble mined." When we destroy human life under the self delusional guise of a "greater medical good" we are just as guilty as the authors of the Final Solution

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8. 8. StemCellBlogger 03:16 AM 3/9/09

   While Embryonic stem cells (ESC) were previously thought to be more powerful than Adult Stem Cells (ASC) because they can become any cell in the body, new studies on ASC are showing that they can become virtually anything. Scientists recently turned Skin-ASC into Neuron-ASC. http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/researchers-make-nerve-cells-from-new-stem-cells-science-reuters/
   
   A decade of ESC research around the world has resulted in no human treatments & because the ESC continue to divide beyond the scientist’s control, they can turn into tumors. ESC also require immunosuppressive drugs, which one of the most common forms of ASC (autologous) used in treatment do not.
   
   Over the same decade of research, adult stem cell treatments have given thousands improved health, extended lives, helped paraplegics to walk… http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/spinal-cord-injury-sci-stem-cell-trials-japan-plays-catch-up/
   
   Gave a man with AIDs 2 years (so far) free of symptoms… http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/?s=aids+symptom+2+years
   
   Successfully improved MS & Cerebral Palsy patients, the list goes on and on… http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/category/victories-success-stories/
   
   ASC are already helping improve & extend the lives of patients with dozens of “incurable” diseases,” 73 diseases when you count only US published scientific papers & well over 100 if you read all of the papers from outside the USA.
   
   Additionally, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) are ASC modified to be able to become any cell in the human body & seem to have all of the benefits of ESC without the tumor potential & with significantly less of a rejection issue; not to mention without the political & religious controversy. http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/embryonic-stem-cell-alternative-has-another-advance-ips-cells-yield-nerve-cells/
   
   And now, even the NIH is jumping into the ASC research and treatment pool. http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/nih-says-adult-stem-cells-are-ready-for-the-prime-time-yah-baby/
   
   Why so much focus on ESC when both ASC & iPSC seem capable of achieving everything ESC can do with a fraction of the obstacles?
   
   The world is treating thousands successfully with ASC. Shouldn't the majority of funding and research go into ASC & iPSC so we can treat the multitude of patients dying and debilitated NOW?
   
   David Granovsky

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9. 9. jdatt2 05:23 PM 3/9/09

   I love it...now if we could just do something about the drug companies. They don't put out drugs (that are actual cures for serious diseases) because the cost benefit analysis shows they will not make make a profit. I also heard from someone that works for one of the companies that they fake studies that say a drug must be taken for life or the illness can return( to maximize profits). I just found out that somebody was able to heal a paralyzed mouse. I am looking forward to no more arthritis!!

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10. 10. Mark Olsen 08:18 PM 3/9/09

    Embryonic stem cell research is an ethical issue not a political one, as President Obama wants to present it. Every embryo has a unique DNA that no other human being has, had or will ever have. Our DNA is our human identity. The human DNA appears in the embryo from the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg. Killing an embryo to obtain body parts for other human beings is totally unethical and barbaric in a civilized society.
    
    Furthermore, great advances had been made in the past 8 years, in adult stem cell, as well as in umbilical cord stem cell research (these cells are able to become any cell in the human body). But at the end of the day, it is all about money. Big Universities and biochemical companies who supported Obama will benefit from the embryonic stem cell research as they will hold the patents that will be extremely profitable.
    

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