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Funding stem cell research
by Dennis Coday on Jul. 13, 2009
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PDF versionThe draft guidelines allowed the use of federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research only on embryos created for reproductive purposes at in vitro fertilization clinics and no longer needed for that purpose. They set standards for voluntary informed consent by those donating the embryos, and said no NIH funds would be given for research that did not meet the standards.
Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionThe story of National Institutes of Health guidelines for funding of stem cell research may have escaped your notice last week. In a nutshell:
The final guidelines, however, set up an "alternative pathway" for approval of funding of research involving embryos donated before the new guidelines took effect or involving stem-cell lines developed in foreign countries. A working group made up of about 10 scientists and ethicists will look at each such application on a case-by-case basis, Kington said, to determine whether it meets "the core principles of voluntary informed consent."
Like the draft, the final guidelines specifically ban funding for "research using human embryonic stem cells derived from other sources, including somatic cell nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis and/or IVF embryos created for research purposes."
Also prohibited is funding of research in which stem cells "are introduced into nonhuman primate blastocysts" or research "involving the breeding of animals where the introduction of human embryonic stem cells or human-induced pluripotent stem cells may contribute to the germ line."
The NIH recieved more than 49,000 comments about the guidelines during a monthlong period of public comment. But apparently as many 30,000 of these comments were disregarded, the NIH said itself, because those responses were "deemed not responsive to the question put forth."
NIH acting director Dr. Raynard S. Kington explained: "We did not ask them whether" to fund such research, "but how it should be funded."
The pro-life communtiy said Kington and the NIH were being "disingenuous" and "not responding to what the American people want."
If American people do not
If American people do not want funding for embryonic stem cell research, they can approach their legislators to make it illegal. However, this would give the impression that the American people prefer not to gain scientific knowledge about embryos, when, in fact, the American people simply do not want human embryos to be treated as nothing more than biological material. The reason the American people do not want embryos treated that way is because they realize that each of us was once an embryo and could not have become who we are now if we had not been the particular embryo we were.
What should be done is the outlawing of the creation and destruction of human embryos for the purpose of obtaining biological material.
I liked the last sentance
I liked the last sentance saying that Kington and the NIH were being disingenous and not responding to what the american people want.
What a bunch of bull! At least they are responding to what the americans want by letting the researchers do something they think will give them the answers...
This is what "Dubya's" pandering to you delusional religous? nutjobs has done I know of a 18 year old girl you is dieing and because of "Dubya" not funding Embryonic stem cell research all she will get is a "Prayer and a Shovel".
Is that what you people want of "Compassionate Conservitism"?? Jesus preached that we should help the sick and injured and you have turned your backs to his teachings.
If "Dubya" had let the researchers do the research without the Ass""""e funding restrictions there would have been a therapy for her to try you people make me sick and you all should be ashamed!
God will judge you for not doing anything, You want to jump over the cliff like a bunch of Lemmings keep listening to the pied piper of rome. It just might be your child.
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