Oliver Willis

If this skin cell research works, great. But I don’t think that it makes any sense to stop pursuing all avenues of research into this life-saving innovation.

Two teams of scientists have independently discovered a way to turn ordinary human skin cells into stem cells with the same characteristics as those derived from human embryos, a breakthrough that could open the door for advanced medical therapies.

If the work holds true to its promise, it would largely bypass ethical issues that have dogged research on human embryonic stem cells. It could also allow scientists to tailor the cells to specific individuals, eliminating the possibility of rejection.

The crux of the discovery, published online Tuesday by the journals Cell and Science, is a "direct reprogramming" technique that adds a cocktail of four genetic factors to run-of-the-mill human skin cells.

Imagine how much further along stem cell research would be if our luddite president had not vetoed stem cell research.

Stem cells made from human embryos can home in on damaged eyes, hearts and arteries of mice and rats, and appear to start repairs, a US company says.

Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology said it had devised a straightforward way to make blood vessel precursor cells out of the stem cells and plans to test them in humans.

The drumbeat continues.

The director of the National Institutes of Health said Monday that the nation would be better served if federally funded scientists had access to new colonies of embryonic stem cells for research.

Elias Zerhouni, testifying at a Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, separated himself from the Bush administration’s position on such research and perhaps put himself on a path toward unemployment.

One interesting element of this is that stem cell research has come down on the Democratic side as a "wedge" issue, used effectively in senate campaigns like here in Maryland (Michael Steele, who lost by 10%, compared the research to Nazism) and in Missouri (where Rush Limbaugh accused Michael J. Fox of faking it, and Claire McCaskill ended up winning by 3%). But unlike the right’s endless wedge issues (gay marriage, abortion, etc.) we’re actually going to be doing something about it when we’re in power.

Supporters of stem cell research are confident they will pass legislation expanding federally funded research in the next Congress - regardless of whether President Bush continues to oppose the move.

Congress passed the legislation last year, but Bush killed the bill, exercising his only veto in six years. But the election results have changed the landscape, and Sen. Orrin Hatch believes supporters can round up enough votes to override a presidential veto, if it comes to that.

"I think we have the votes in the Senate to override a veto, and we may have them in the House. I think we can get there," the Utah Republican said. "According to some, we’re only a couple votes short, and I think I know where those votes are."

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., who will be the lead sponsor of the House bill, said she recently spoke to the 41 new House Democrats and "to describe them as wildly enthusiastic about this bill would be an understatement."
    "I think the election really sent a message to Washington that the voters want embryonic stem cell research passed," she said.

I want to see this bill written into law because people need help, but if we don’t get the amount required to override a veto and Bush (likely) vetoes it — well, that’s yet another great argument in favor of a Democratic president two years from now.

It’s a game-changer. No wonder the cons are working so hard against it.

A new national study revealed that American voters’ support for stem cell research increased after they viewed an ad featuring Michael J. Fox in which he expresses his support for candidates who are in favor of stem cell research.

The study was conducted among 955 Americans by HCD Research and Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO) during October 24-25, to obtain Americans’ views on the stem cell research before and after they watched the ad.

# Among all respondents, support for stem cell research increased from 78% prior to viewing the ad, to 83% after viewing the ad. Support among Democrats increased from 89% to 93%, support among Republicans increased from 66% to 68% and support among Independents increased from 80% to 87% after viewing the ad.

# The level of concern regarding a candidate’s view on stem cell research increased among all respondents from 57% prior to viewing the ad to 70% after viewing the ad. Among Democrats, the level of concern increased from 66% to 83% and Republicans’ level of concern increased from 50% to 60%. Independents’ level of concern increased from 58% to 69%.

(via)

The Republican congress has soft-pedaled this issue for two long.

Americans who believe embryonic stem cells could one day cure their cancers, their parents’degenerative diseases or their children’s diabetes may soon reach a crossroads: a final vote by Congress to lift President Bush’s ban on federal funding for research on new embryonic stem cell lines.

Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Orrin Hatch of Utah, two Republicans leading a bipartisan coalition to force such a vote, say the issue should reach the Senate floor sometime in May or June after languishing for months.

They predict they have enough votes to lift the ban and say they believe Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, will make the push. But they say they are prepared to take matters into their own hands should he hesitate.