UCSF's Kriegstein Weighs In on Reasons to Expand Federal Stem Cell Funding
Five years after President George W. Bush announced limited funding for human embryonic stem cell research, the US Senate takes up a bill today that would significantly expand that funding.
The measure would allow funding for studies on embryos left over following fertility treatments and donated for stem cell research. Days-old embryos contain embryonic stem cells, which scientists believe have significant potential for treating such ailments as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries.
The House passed a bill with identical language in 2005, though not by enough votes to override a veto of the bill, expected by the president as early as Wednesday.
Under current regulations, announced by Bush on August 9, 2001, federal funds can only be used to study embryonic stem cells that had been developed by that date. Embryonic stem cells emerge when the embryo is five to seven days old. At this stage, it is known as a blastocyst, and is an amorphous ball containing some 100 to 150 cells. The embryo must be destroyed to obtain the stem cells. Notably, UCSF and University of Wisconsin pioneered human embryonic stem cell research prior to 2001, without the benefit of federal funds. Both universities derived human embryonic stem cell lines that are now included in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stem Cell Registry. UCSF has shared its two NIH-approved lines with more than 70 labs around the world. Since August 2001, UCSF has derived 11 new stem cell lines, again without the benefit of federal funding. These cell lines may not be studied with federal funds. For more information on UCSF and stem cells, see the Institute for Regeneration Medicine site. Photo/Christine Jegan Links:
NBC Nightly News, July 16, 2006
(note: this segment requires Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player; a 31-second advertisement will play before the 2:15 segment on Stem Cell Research featuring Kriegstein)
The California Report, KQED, July 17, 2006
(note: stem cell research segment begins 1 minute into the audio) Eyewitness News, CBS 5 (KPIX), July 18, 2006
From Toronto, UCSF's Kriegstein Comments on the State of Stem Cell Science
Scientists Skirt Stem Cell Ban By Building Dual Labs, Firewalls
Bloomberg.com, June 16, 2006
The measure would allow funding for studies on embryos left over following fertility treatments and donated for stem cell research. Days-old embryos contain embryonic stem cells, which scientists believe have significant potential for treating such ailments as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries.
| Arnold
Kriegstein, director of the UCSF Institute for Regeneration Medicine,
was interviewed by NBC Nightly News KQED-FM The California Report and CBS 5 Eyewitness News for his take on the importance of expanded federal funding. (See links below) |
The House passed a bill with identical language in 2005, though not by enough votes to override a veto of the bill, expected by the president as early as Wednesday.
Under current regulations, announced by Bush on August 9, 2001, federal funds can only be used to study embryonic stem cells that had been developed by that date. Embryonic stem cells emerge when the embryo is five to seven days old. At this stage, it is known as a blastocyst, and is an amorphous ball containing some 100 to 150 cells. The embryo must be destroyed to obtain the stem cells. Notably, UCSF and University of Wisconsin pioneered human embryonic stem cell research prior to 2001, without the benefit of federal funds. Both universities derived human embryonic stem cell lines that are now included in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stem Cell Registry. UCSF has shared its two NIH-approved lines with more than 70 labs around the world. Since August 2001, UCSF has derived 11 new stem cell lines, again without the benefit of federal funding. These cell lines may not be studied with federal funds. For more information on UCSF and stem cells, see the Institute for Regeneration Medicine site. Photo/Christine Jegan Links:
NBC Nightly News, July 16, 2006(note: this segment requires Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player; a 31-second advertisement will play before the 2:15 segment on Stem Cell Research featuring Kriegstein)
The California Report, KQED, July 17, 2006(note: stem cell research segment begins 1 minute into the audio)
Eyewitness News, CBS 5 (KPIX), July 18, 2006
From Toronto, UCSF's Kriegstein Comments on the State of Stem Cell Science
Scientists Skirt Stem Cell Ban By Building Dual Labs, FirewallsBloomberg.com, June 16, 2006