The Pluripotent

The last time I compared embryonic stem cell research with the holocaust was in my college philosophy paper, which I incidentally failed.  (My essay was only for argument’s sake.)  I hear a lot of right-wingers pulling out the holocaust card on TV and the blogosphere.  And as all unsound philosophical arguments do, it makes me cringe each time someone puts embryonic stem cell research on par with the holocaust.  Now, a group is putting up that argument at the legislative level…

The NAAPC (note: not the NAACP), is accusing President Obama of violating the constitutional rights of a frozen embryo and “enslaving” it, like Nazis enslaved Jews during the Holocaust.  The group is urging a federal judge to halt Obama’s plans to allow federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.  The best part is this:  The group says it’s taking legal action on behalf of “Mary Scott Doe.”  That’s the name they’ve given an embryo.  “She” is a “U.S. citizen” whose life has been “suspended” since “she” was frozen in liquid nitrogen — and thousands of other embryos just like “her.” I smell a dismissal.

Want to read their official complaint?  It’s here.

[Via Fox]

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While I’ve been busy getting ready for tomorrow’s lab meeting over the weekend, Dayo texted me news that Obama is expected to reverse (or has signed legislation?) Bush’s limitations on embryonic stem cell research today.  If the lift of Bush ban happens, the NIH would be allowed to fund studies using embryos discarded from IVF clinics.  News sources say: The move is part of a broader effort to separate science and politics and “restore scientific integrity in governmental decision-making,” White House domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes said Sunday.  Harold Varmus, co-chair of Obama’s science advisory council, said Obama’s order will direct the National Institutes of Health to develop revised guidelines on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research within 120 days.

All this seems to be in good timing (better late than later) since the NIH portion of the stimulus package was recently announced to scientists.  Allowing hESCs would expand the possible projects to be funded by the NIH.

Update:  Pres Obama signed today legislation allowing federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.  Here’s the full text of the executive order.

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Let’s hope that the third time’s a charm.  Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) have reintroduced the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, legislation to lift the Bush Administration’s restrictions on stem cell research.

Here’s the history of this bill: The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would have allowed federal funding of stem cell research on embryos discarded from IVF clinics, first passed through the House and Senate in 2005 and was vetoed by former President George W. Bush.  Strike one.

The bill was reintroduced in 2007. After passing through the House and Senate, Pres. Bush vetoed it, again. Strike two.

With Bush out of the picture, will it go through this time? The bipartisan measure would “allow federal funding for stem cell research using stem cell lines derived under strict ethical requirements from excess in vitro fertilization embryos, regardless of the date they were derived.“  I’m hopeful for the likelihood that the bill will breeze through the House and Senate and won’t be vetoed by President Obama.

[Via The Great Beyond via Government & via GEN]

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If you’re a stem cell research advocate and if someone asks you “Who restricted embryonic stem cell research in the United States?” I’ll bet that the first person that comes into mind is former U.S. President George W. Bush. This is probably true if you’re part of my generation–the generation that matured during George W. Bush’s presidency. Right now, I’m 23 years old, and Bush’s presidency started when I was going through puberty (more or less) until I graduated college and moved away from home.

It’s a well-known fact that Bush wasn’t, and most likely still isn’t, a supporter of embryonic stem cell research. During his presidency two years ago, he used his veto power for the first time to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would have allowed federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Way before this bill was introduced, in 1995, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Dickey Amendment (Section 128 of P.L. 104-99), which forbade any type of federal money to fund embryonic stem cell research. (Using the language for its time, it restricted using federal money to create or destroy human embryos for research purposes.) George W. Bush lifted some of these restrictions. On August 9th, 2001, he announced that federal funds may be awarded for research using human embryonic stem cells only if certain criteria were met, one of which was that the stem cell line must have been derived before 9:00 P.M. EDT on August 9, 2001.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would have allowed the use of stem cells from human embryos discarded from fertility clinics. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was introduced on February 15, 2005. It was reported by the Committee four months later. The House passed it on May 24, 2005, then the Senate passed it on July 18, 2006. On moral grounds, President Bush vetoed it the next day. The House failed to override the veto, so the bill never came to law. Embryonic stem cell research supporters weren’t happy that day, also on moral grounds.

A similar bill with the same name was reintroduced a year later on January 4, 2007. After passing through the House and Senate, Pres. Bush vetoed it, again. Neither the House nor Senate attempted an override. Embryonic stem cell supporters weren’t happy that day, either.
Why weren’t they happy? If the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was passed, it would have allowed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use federal money to research studies involving human embryonic stem cells. (Most research money comes from the NIH, which is funded by the HHS. No passing of the bill meant no public money for this type of research. Understandably, embryonic stem cell research supporters were anticipating a presidential candidate that wouldn’t use his power to veto bills like the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

Almost as soon as George W. Bush left the oval office and President Barack Obama entered it, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the world’s first human clinical trial of cell therapy using embryonic stem cells on January 23, 2009.

To Be Continued…

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Reuters is reporting that President Barack Obama will soon issue an executive order lifting an eight-year ban embryonic stem cell research imposed by former President George W. Bush.  This was announced by Senior Adviser David Axelrod on Sunday, “We’re going to be doing something on that soon, I think. The president is considering that right now.”

It’s good to know to hear from a senior adviser that Pres. Obama is currently considering the issue, especially after he vowed to reverse Bush’s ban during his campaign and inaugural address to “return science to its proper place.”

More news:
Washington Post

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U.S. Representative Diana DeGette said she plans to reintroduce a bill overturning limits on federal funding for stem-cell research even if President Barack Obama lifts the ban by executive order. FYI, Rep. DeGette (D) co-wrote the legislation regarding federal support for researchers studying embryonic stem cells, which was approved by Congress but vetoed twice by former President George W. Bush.  As an Illinois senator, Obama voted in favor of DeGette’s bill.  If Obama does lift the ban on stem-cell research, DeGette said she still wants to codify the action with legislation.

[Via Bloomberg]

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Foreign family planning agencies that promote or give information about abortion can now get federal US funding now that US President Barack Obama has lifted the ban.  Why foreign, you wonder?  The US has, for a long time, been one of the biggest supporters of family planning programs in the world, but former president Bush blocked funds from abortion services.  Obviously, contrary to Planned Parenthood’s attitude, anti-abortion groups aren’t happy.  Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, points out that “Obama not long ago told the American people that he would support policies to reduce abortions, but today he is effectively guaranteeing more abortions by funding groups that promote abortion as a method of population control.“  Population control???

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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At an inauguration event at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C., actor Michael J. Fox spoke with Reuters reporter John McCrank about his hopes for the Obama administration.  If you’ve ever seen an episode of Spin City, you probably already know that he’s afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous sytem.  It’s tough to hear him clearly past the pompous babbling in the background, but Reuter’s quotes says he “expects a very productive ‘four-to-eight years’, saying Obama ‘is a fan of science and intellectual curiosity’ and is committed to moving forward with research.”  We really hope that Obama isn’t late to help out MJF… like Christopher Reeve late.

[Via Reuters]

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Now that we have a new president in office, let us examine what Mr. Obama has planned for the future of stem cell research. When asked about his position on government regulation and funding of stem cell research, he replies with a positive note (quite contrary to that of Bush’s restrictive laws passed in 2001). After highlighting the advantages of stem cell research, he promises, ”As president, I will lift the current administration’s ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines and I will ensure that all research on stem cells is conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight.” Now let’s just hope that he follows through with this promise.

Popularity: 2% [?]