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Some States Move To Limit Stem Cell Research

Posted on: Tuesday, 17 March 2009, 16:40 CDT | Related Video

Just days after President Barack Obama signed an executive order lifting the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Oklahoma state legislators in the House passed a bill introduced by Republican Mike Reynolds that would outlaw a majority of such research in the state.

"I absolutely believe that if the federal government messes things up, states have a right to straighten it out," Reynolds said in an interview with Reuters.

"I believe the federal government has infringed on several states' rights. The right to protect lives is one."

Other states are taking similar steps to limit stem cell research, the opposite approach seen in states such as California, New Jersey, New York and others that enacted laws encouraging and even funding such research after the Bush administration restricted federal funding of stem cell research.

However, Reynolds said his bill would likely need some rewording before it would pass a vote in the Oklahoma state senate.

"My motivation is to protect unborn children," he said.

Obama’s executive order rescinded restrictions set by President George W. Bush that limited federal funding to research involving a only a few batches, or lines, of stem cells that existed as of August 9, 2001.

Obama has tasked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with controlling what scientists are permitted to do with the federal funds.

Opponents of stem cell research fear the NIH may allow or even encourage the use of cloning technology to create embryos as a source of stem cells.

Interestingly, the dividing lines in this battle do not firmly align with those of the abortion rights issue.  Indeed, some staunch opponents of abortion rights support human embryonic stem cell research, which they believe could ultimately provide treatments for diseases from diabetes to AIDS.

Last week, the Georgia state senate passed a bill making it illegal to use cloning technology to create human embryos.  However, the bill specifically mentions that stem cells obtained from other sources, including stem-like cells known as iPS cells, are not affected.

The bill could strain the conventional alliance between the business community and social conservatives.

A broad coalition ranging from businesses to academic institutions and patient advocacy groups opposes the Georgia bill, according to Charles Craig, president of Georgia Bio, which promotes the state's interests in the life sciences industry.

"Georgia should not do anything more restrictive than the federal government when it comes to scientific research," he told Reuters.

Craig is concerned that the measure, should it become law, would be a "negative signal" to the rest of the world and could "brand the state as being anti-science."

The Mississippi House passed a bill last week prohibiting the University of Mississippi to use state funds to conduct research that would result in the destruction of a human embryo. 

Meanwhile, a bill initiated last week in the Texas legislature would prohibit the use of state funds for stem cell research.

Arizona has already enacted a law that bans university researchers from using state funds to manipulate embryonic stem cells in pursuit of treatments or cures.  A separate state law bans Arizona scientists from experimenting with any kind of human embryo or fetus. 

And in Louisiana, state law now prohibits research on embryos created in vitro fertilization clinics.

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Image Caption: Human embryonic stem cell (gold) growing on a layer of supporting cells (fibroblasts). Stem cells are derived from very early embryos and can be either grown to stay in their original state or triggered to form almost any type of human cell. The fibroblasts provide special factors that maintain the stem cells in their original state. The stem cell appears to be grasped by the underlying fibroblast. Stem cell research could lead to cures for many diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes, where cells are damaged or absent. Colour-enhanced scanning electron micrograph by Annie Cavanagh and Dave McCarthy. Stem cells were grown by Jessica Cooke in Stephen Minger's labs at King's College London.

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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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