Stem Cell Research

In banning federal funding for research on new stem cell lines, President Bush stated that “more than 60 genetically diverse" lines were available for potential research. The President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine later noted, “The president seems to have information far different from that of the bulk of the medical community.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, research on human embryonic stem cells offers great promise for those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, heart disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, spinal cord injury, and diabetes.[1] Many social conservatives, however, see stem cell research as related to abortion.[2] In August 2001, President Bush banned federal funding for research on new stem cell lines. In pursuing this policy, the President provided misleading information to the public.

In a nationwide address on August 9, 2001, President Bush argued that his decision to ban research on new stem cell lines would not adversely affect patients. He claimed that “more than 60 genetically diverse stem cell lines” already existed and that research on these lines “could lead to breakthrough therapies and cures.”[3]

After the President’s announcement, stem cell researchers immediately expressed skepticism about the number and quality of available cell lines.[4] Soon thereafter, in a September 5, 2001, appearance before a Senate panel, HHS Secretary Thompson acknowledged that only about 24 to 25 cell lines actually had reached the state of maturity required for most research.[5] Some of the institutions that had stem cell lines did not have the resources to ship them safely to other labs; others had not developed the lines to the stage necessary for research.[6] Still other lines may have genetic problems.[7] The President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine noted, “The president seems to have information far different from that of the bulk of the medical community.”[8]

In May 2003, NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni told Congress that only 11 stem cell lines are widely available to researchers.[9] All of these lines are potentially contaminated by viruses as a result of being developed with mouse feeder cells. Therefore, they may not be appropriate for human use because of the potential for infection.[10] Addressing this problem, scientists at Johns Hopkins recently announced the discovery of a method for developing uninfected stem cell lines on feeder cells from adult humans.[11] Scientists cannot work with new cell lines developed with this method, however, because President Bush’s policy prohibits the use of lines developed after April 2001.

[1] NIH, Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions (June 2001).

[2] See, e.g., Stem-cell Research and the Catholic Church (online at http://www.americancatholic.org/News/StemCell/).

[3] White House, Remarks by the President on Stem Cell Research (Aug. 9, 2001) (online at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-2.html).

[4] Cell Lines Are Listed; Not All Can Be Used, Boston Globe (Aug. 28, 2001).

[5] Stem Cell Distribution Deal Told Science: The Federal Plan Would Speed Valued Tissue to Researchers, but Critics Cite a Ban on Their Use to Treat Patients, Los Angeles Times (Sept. 6, 2001).

[6] Stem Cell Research Runs into Roadblocks, Boston Globe (May 12, 2002).

[7] Scientists Worry How Policy Affects Them, San Francisco Chronicle (Aug. 10, 2001).

[8] Id.

[9] Elias Zerhouni, Testimony before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research, 108th Cong. (May 22, 2003).

[10] American Association for the Advancement of Science, Center for Science, Technology and Congress, GOP Moderates Question Bush Stem Cell Policy (June 30, 2003) (online at www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/news/articles2003/030630_stemcells.shtml).

[11] Human Adult Marrow Cells Support Prolonged Expansion of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Culture, Stem Cells, 21 (Oct. 4, 2003).