US Appeals Court Lift Ban of Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research

US Appeals Court Lift Ban of Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research
Saturday, 30 April 2011

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“Stem cells are thought to have properties that can cure many diseases that other treatments cannot. However, because the cells often come from embryos, the issue is hotly debated. This recent Court of Appeals decision has been heralded a victory for those who wish to continue research; public colleges are now eligible to receive Federal funding. This influx of stem cell research will be a huge benefit to the health science community and are likely to lead less traditional programs, like online PhD programs, to contribute as well."

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US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, on Friday ruled the Obama administration can continue using federal money to fund human embryonic stem cell research.
The appeals court overturned the ruling by the District Judge Royce Lamberth, who found that the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines on such research violated the law because embryos were destroyed and it put other researchers working with adult stem cells at a disadvantage to win federal grants.

The US Court of Appeals in Washington ruled 2-1 on Friday that a 1996 US law against federal funding of embryo destruction was "ambiguous", and "did not prohibit funding a research project in which an ESC (embryonic stem cell) will be used".

"This is a momentous day – not only for science, but for the hopes of thousands of patients and their families who are relying on NIH-funded scientists to pursue life-saving discoveries and therapies that could come from stem cell research," NIH Director Francis Collins said in a statement.

White House spokesperson Nick Papas said the decision was a victory for scientists and patients.

"Responsible stem cell research has the potential to treat some of our most devastating diseases and conditions and offers hope to families across the country and around the world," he said.

“This is a victory not only for the scientists, but for the patients who are waiting for treatments and cures for terrible diseases,” Arnold Kriegstein, MD, PhD, said. Kriegstein is director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF.

“This ruling allows critical research to move forward, enabling scientists to compare human embryonic stem cells to other forms of stem cells, such as the cell lines which are derived from skin cells, and to pursue potentially life-saving therapies based on that research.”

Kriegstein was one of two University of California scientists to file a Declaration in September 2010 in support of the UC Board of Regents’ motion to intervene in the August lawsuit, Sherley v. Sebelius.

Sherly v. Sebelius had argued that when the Obama Administration lifted a ban on federal funding for the research in March 2009, it had violated the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which barred using taxpayer funds in research that destroyed embryos.

“I am very happy with this decision, although I am surprised that it wasn’t a unanimous vote,” Kriegstein said.

“In my opinion, the evidence in favour of pursuing this research is overwhelming compared to the arguments submitted to stop the research.”

UCSF launched the nation’s first stem cell PhD program in 2010, for which the first class already has been chosen and will begin in fall 2011.

“This is an important day for stem cell research and the nation’s scientific community. Most importantly, this is a victory for the patients around the world suffering from incurable diseases,” says Susan L. Solomon, CEO of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF).

“The time has come for our leaders to put progress before politics on this issue and remove all of the remaining, unnecessary limitations on human embryonic stem cell research conducted with the best ethical and medical practices. We need to put an end to the constant uncertainty facing the field of embryonic stem cell research so scientists can get on with the serious business of research and maintain the kind of momentum that will lead to cures for the most intractable diseases facing mankind.”

OnlinePhD supports writing about continued stem cell research in higher education.

Reference:
Read the full court ruling
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ZenMaster

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For more on stem cells and cloning, go to CellNEWS at
http://cellnews-blog.blogspot.com/

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Proposed NIH Stem Cell Guidelines Dismay Leading Stanford Researcher

Irving Weissman think therapeutic cloning should be allowed Monday, 20 April 2009 The director of stem cell research at the Stanford University School of Medicine says he is troubled by draft guidelines issued today by the National Institutes of Health that would prohibit federal funding for research on stem cell lines created through a technique sometimes referred to as “therapeutic cloning” or somatic cell nuclear transfer. Irving Weissman, MD, director of Stanford’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, said the SCNT technique is one way to create disease-specific human embryonic stem cell lines on which to conduct research and test therapies. He also took issue with the assertion that the NIH consulted existing guidelines from the National Academy of Sciences and the International Society for Stem Cell Research — both of which sanction the use of SCNT-derived cell lines — in coming up with its draft recommendations. “Instead of facts, the NIH placed its own version of ethics in place of the president’s clear proclamation,” said Weissman, the Virginia & D.K. Ludwig Professor for Clinical Investigation in Cancer Research. “As head of the National Academy of Sciences' panel that unanimously endorsed research using SCNT, and as a drafter of the guidelines for the International Society for Stem Cell Research, I know that this suggested ban on federal funding of SCNT-derived human embryonic stem cell lines is against our policies and against President Obama’s March 9 comments. The NIH has not served its president well.” On March 9, President Barack Obama signed an executive order removing previous restrictions on the use of federal funds for research on any human embryonic stem cell line derived after Aug. 9, 2001. He used the ceremony to remark that it is important to ensure “that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda — and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.” In announcing the draft guidelines, acting NIH director Raynard Kington, MD, PhD, justified the restriction in part by saying that there is a lack of scientific consensus as to the necessity of funding lines derived by SCNT and that, although the technique has been used to create many embryonic stem cell lines in animals, such human embryonic stem cell lines have not yet been documented. “We believe there is strong, broad public and scientific support for the use of federal funds for research on cell lines from embryos derived through in vitro fertilization for reproductive purposes that would not otherwise be used,” said Kington, noting that similar legislation had twice passed both the House and Senate only to be vetoed by former President George W. Bush. “We do not see similar broad support for using federal funding for research on cell lines from other sources.” The somatic cell nuclear transfer technique involves removing the nucleus from an egg cell and replacing it with a nucleus from a different cell in order to create an embryonic stem cell line genetically identical to the donor nucleus. In the case of a donor who suffers from a condition like Parkinson’s disease, the SCNT process would yield an embryonic stem cell line that could be used to test specific therapies for that patient. If the draft guidelines are adopted, they would underscore the continued need for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which has funded grants to several scientists working to create specific human embryonic stem cell lines for research purposes. The institute was established in 2005 by Proposition 71 to counteract the effect of President Bush’s limits on federal funding of such research. “Methods like SCNT were specifically sanctioned by Prop. 71,” said Geoff Lomax, PhD, the senior officer to the state institute’s Standards Working Group, which was instituted to develop ethical guidelines for the use of embryos in CIRM-funded research. “These potential restrictions on the range of research materials available for federal funding ensure that CIRM will continue to play a unique role in the world of stem cell research.” “For certain types of research, CIRM could remain very important,” concurred Renee Reijo-Pera, PhD, director of Stanford’s Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education. Reijo-Pera said she had expected the NIH guidelines to be somewhat conservative, particularly where SCNT is concerned. “I am happy that these are draft guidelines,” said Weissman, who noted that the NIH did not solicit input from either the National Academy of Sciences or the International Society for Stem Cell Research during the consensus process. “I’d like to remind the NIH of the principles enunciated by the president on March 9. Research in this area is moving very fast, and it’s not possible to say whether advances will come from work on adult-derived iPS cells or from embryonic stem cells created by nuclear transfer. Policy needs to be developed as the field develops, rather than precluding something based on ideology.” The proposed NIH guidelines will be available for public comment for 30 days, and the final guidelines will be released by the agency on or before July 7. Comments can be mailed, or submitted electronically after the guidelines are published in the Federal Register by April 24. About Stanford University School of Medicine: The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation’s top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Source: Stanford University School of Medicine. ......... ZenMaster

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For more on stem cells and cloning, go to CellNEWS at http://cellnews-blog.blogspot.com/ and http://www.geocities.com/giantfideli/index.html

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Obama Reverses Bush’s Stem Cell Policy

Ceremony in the White House overturns the 8-year-old Bush ban on federal support for stem cell research Monday, 09 March 2009 President Barack Obama, at a ceremony in the East Room at White House today, overturned the 8-year-old Bush ban on federal support of human embryonic stem cell research. In an Executive Order, the Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is overturned. “Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident,” the President said. "They result from painstaking and costly research — from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit — and from a government willing to support that work." This research should be pursued, but with strict guidelines and ethics oversight. The President would also support research on iPS cell research. "The majority of Americans — from across the political spectrum, and of all backgrounds and beliefs — have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research," said Obama. "That the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided.” He clearly stated that cloning for human reproductive purposes would never be allowed. Obama's move is part of a broader effort to separate science and politics, sending a clear signal, that science — not political ideology — will guide his administration. Therefore, Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Independence from politics and beliefs. The presidential memorandum will establish greater independence for federal science policies and programs in an effort to separate science and politics and "restore scientific integrity in governmental decision-making”. "This order is an important step in advancing the cause of science in America. But let's be clear: promoting science isn't just about providing resources — it is also about protecting free and open inquiry," the President said . "It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient — especially when it's inconvenient." Dr. Harold Varmus, the Nobel Prize winner and president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and now co-chairman of Obama's science advisory council, said that Obama will "endorse the notion that public policy must be guided by sound, scientific advice." 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. Rockefeller University president applauds new US policy on stem cells “Today's executive order making federal money once again available for research on human embryonic stem cells will accelerate biomedical research and hopefully bring us closer to cures for some of our most devastating diseases,” said Nobel Prize winner and Rockefeller University president Sir Paul Nurse. "The new policy, which reverses eight years of restrictions on how biomedical research scientists interested in understanding stem cells can spend federal grant money, will have an important impact on the pace of this type of research," Nurse said. "It will also help many scientists make better use of limited research dollars by freeing them from the need to carefully separate privately funded experiments on non-Registry cell lines from those that are publicly funded." Under the old policy, scientists wishing to work on certain lines of stem cells were not permitted to use supplies or equipment paid for by federal grant money. Several labs at Rockefeller work with human embryonic stem cells, including a line that was derived using funds exclusively from private sources under the old policy. "When you're dealing with research that may take years to fully mature, it's important to have consistent policies in place that allow scientists to work without fear of political restrictions," Nurse said. "In addition to making money available to scientists studying embryonic stem cells, President Obama's executive order today will help encourage researchers to invest their efforts in this important area of research." ISSCR Scientists Elated for Future of Stem Cell Research The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) applauded President Barack Obama’s decision to expand federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research by rescinding the policy of Aug. 9, 2001, which restricted federally-funded researchers to using only the small number of cell lines created before that date. The President’s executive order demonstrates his enthusiastic endorsement of stem cell research and its potential to relieve suffering caused by diseases and conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and spinal cord injuries. Today’s executive order calls on the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the primary federal agency for funding medical research, to develop revised policies on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. The new policy empowers scientists to utilize the many hundreds of valuable lines created since 2001, and relieves them from the substantial hurdles in duplicating equipment and other resources in order to separate privately- or state-funded stem cell research from federal government-funded efforts. “Today’s announcement restores integrity to the relationship between politics and science that has been traditional in the U.S.,” said Irving Weissman, President-Elect of the ISSCR. “We anticipate increased collaborative efforts amongst the scientific community and across disciplines, which will drive the entire field forward.” As the principal international organization of stem cell research professionals, the ISSCR is eager to offer its broad expertise to the NIH to support development of policies for research funding and oversight. The ISSCR believes that research using all types of stem cells should be selected for funding based on scientific merit and conducted under transparent ethical oversight. “Policies governing stem cell research should embrace the rigorous ethical standards laid out in the National Academy of Sciences’ guidelines and the ISSCR’s Guidelines for the Conduct of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research,” said George Q. Daley, ISSCR immediate past president, and chair of the task force that developed the ISSCR guidelines. The ISSCR is confident that under the new administration policy embryonic stem cell research will thrive and ultimately lead to a better understanding and treatment of many diseases, which today are untreatable. See also: Obama to Reverse Embryonic Stem Cell Ban CellNEWS - Saturday, 07 March 2009 Barack Obama on Stem Cell Research CellNEWS - Tuesday, 02 September 2008 ......... ZenMaster

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For more on stem cells and cloning, go to CellNEWS at http://cellnews-blog.blogspot.com/ and http://www.geocities.com/giantfideli/index.html

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Obama to Reverse Embryonic Stem Cell Ban

Signing of an executive order planned for Monday Saturday, 07 March 2009 President Obama's decision to lift restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, scheduled to be announced Monday, White House officials said Friday. It is expected to provide a major boost to one of the most promising but controversial fields of biomedical research in generations. The signing of an executive order voiding the restrictions will allow thousands of scientists to study hundreds of lines of cells that have been developed since the limitations were put in place eight years ago. It will also allow them to dismantle cumbersome bureaucracies constructed to work around the constraints and let them exchange scientific ideas more easily. The official also said Obama would make an announcement about a broader initiative to restore scientific integrity to government processes. In anticipation of the decision, the National Institutes of Health has started drafting guidelines to address the many ethical issues raised by the research. Mr. Obama’s announcement is not likely to lead to any immediate change in government policy, since it may take many months for the NIH to develop new guidelines for research. Still, research advocates are expected to push for the process to go as quickly as possible to ensure that universities have time to submit grant proposals that can be reviewed and accepted before September 2010, when the health institutes must commit the last of the $10.4 billion given to the NIH as part of the economic stimulus program. In contrast to the low-key way in which Obama has reversed other Bush legacies related to culture-war issues, the White House has invited scientists, advocates and members of Congress to a public ceremony for the signing. Obama will also announce "a broader effort to restore scientific integrity," an administration official said. Federal law will still prohibit using federal funds to destroy human embryos. However, some scientists hope funding will be allowed to support work on stem cells derived from a variety of sources, including from embryos specifically created to yield them, and not limited to cells from frozen embryos destined to be discarded by fertility clinics. "We're all waiting to see what the details of the policy will be," said George Daley, a leading stem cell researcher at Children's Hospital Boston. "If the policy were limited to lines exclusively from frozen embryos left over at IVF clinics, that would be a very restricted course and exclude some very important lines." "This is what the patient community, the scientific community and the medical community has been asking for," said Lawrence A. Soler of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "We need to give credit to the administration for living up to their promise to keep politics out of science." Dr. Deepak Srivastava, director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease in San Francisco's new biotechnology complex at Mission Bay, said Obama probably has timed his announcement to allow stem cell researchers to qualify for some of the billions of dollars to be provided to NIH under the nation's stimulus package to jump-start the ailing economy. Srivastava said California is well-placed to capture a significant share of that federal money because the state's $3 billion taxpayer-supported stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has already paid to train scientists, support research and build new laboratories. The institute was created by a voter initiative in 2004. "We're really ahead of the curve and in the best position to make the discoveries now that the federal government is going to be a player," Srivastava said. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine was set up by the voter initiative Proposition 71 to fund research that the federal government could not support under the Bush restrictions. Robert Klein, a real estate developer who spearheaded the initiative, said the NIH is now eager to work with the institute. "There was this oppressive ideological blockade of the development of medical science," said Klein, who now chairs the state stem cell institute's governing body. "We've been finally freed from the Middle Ages." Dr. Irving Weissman, director of Stanford's Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Institute, said Obama's policy will relieve researchers from the onerous requirement to segregate projects funded by the NIH from work on embryonic stem cells. Weissman said he will attend Obama's signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Monday. "I never thought I would actually fly cross-country just for something like this," said Weissman, "But then I changed my mind. I've been working and speaking out about the ban for about eight years, and now I want to be there." Among the lawmakers reportedly invited to the White House on Monday are Senators Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Representative Michael N. Castle of Delaware, all Republicans; Senators Dianne Feinstein of California, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Representative Diana DeGette of Colorado, all Democrats. See also: Obama Reverses Bush’s Stem Cell Policy CellNEWS - Monday, 09 March 2009 Barack Obama on Stem Cell Research CellNEWS - Tuesday, 02 September 2008 ......... ZenMaster

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For more on stem cells and cloning, go to CellNEWS at http://cellnews-blog.blogspot.com/ and http://www.geocities.com/giantfideli/index.html

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Barack Obama on Stem Cell Research

Barack Obama on Stem Cell Research 
Tuesday, 02 September 2008


US Presidential candidate Barack Obama has spelled out his views on several main scientific issues, in responses to a science policy survey issued by research and science advocacy group ScienceDebate2008. Members of ScienceDebate2008 include Nobel laureates Peter Agre, David Baltimore, and Steve Chu, along with former science advisors to the president Neil Lane and John Gibbons. There are also university presidents, and the editors of both Science and Nature, among others. 

The Democratic presidential nominee provided lengthy answers to 14 questions on topics from climate change and national security to stem cell research and scientific integrity, voicing support for basic research and for confronting issues such as energy independence, combating global warming, and bolstering the economy through science and technology innovation. 

On stem cell research, he said: "I strongly support expanding research on stem cells. I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations. As president, I will lift the current administration's ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001 through executive order, and I will ensure that all research on stem cells is conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight." 

 On the benefits and potential risks of genetic information, he commented: "I have been a long-time supporter of the recently passed Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act. In addition, concerned about the premature introduction of genetic testing into the public domain without appropriate oversight, I introduced the Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2007 aimed at ensuring the safety and accuracy of such testing." 

See also: Obama Reverses Bush’s Stem Cell Policy 
CellNEWS - Monday, 09 March 2009 

Obama to Reverse Embryonic Stem Cell Ban 
CellNEWS - Saturday, 07 March 2009 
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ZenMaster

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For more on stem cells and cloning, go to CellNEWS at http://cellnews-blog.blogspot.com/ 

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