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International Society for Stem Cell Research Applauds Outcome of Proposal 2 Advancing Stem Cell Research

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 November 2008, 12:00 CST

DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, Michigan voters were asked to support Michigan's Proposal 2, a state initiative to accelerate medical research and develop new stem cell treatments for currently incurable diseases. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), representing some of the world's leading stem cell researchers, along with other leading scientists works to support all types of stem cell research. The vote was 53% in favor and 47% opposed to Proposal 2.

"We applaud this decision by the voters of the state of Michigan," said Dr. George Q. Daley, ISSCR past-president and associate director of the Stem Cell Program at Children's Hospital Boston. "This outcome means that critical medical research can proceed in Michigan without political or ideological interference. The voters saw through the fear and misinformation circulated by opponents of medical research and reaffirmed their commitment to allow physicians and scientists in Michigan to pursue the most promising avenues of discovery." Proposal 2 will allow research to go forward in Michigan that is occurring throughout most of the rest of the country while entrenching restrictions in the state constitution that ensure that the research is performed ethically, and under oversight mandated by federal law.

The University of Michigan has an extensive stem cell research program led by the Center for Stem Cell Biology and members of the ISSCR. With additional research and trials, stem cells have the potential to improve the lives of millions of patients suffering from conditions and diseases, including Parkinson's and diabetes.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is an independent, nonprofit membership organization established to promote and foster the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas relating to stem cells, to encourage the general field of research involving stem cells and to promote professional and public education in all areas of stem cell research and application.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research

CONTACT: Meagan Comerford, ISSCR Marketing Communications Manager,+1-847-509-1944, ext. 246, mcomerford@isscr.org; or Kate Morris Stanley ofFleishman-Hillard, +1-202-828-9763, kate.stanley@fleishman.com, for ISSCR

Source: PRNewswire

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