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Government Support for Stem Cell Research Evolves, Business and Industry Trends Analysis

Shortly after taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama reversed an eight-year ban on the use of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.  Specifically, Obama issued Executive Order 13505, entitled “Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells.”  This executive order, dated March 9, 2009, charged the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with issuing new guidelines for stem cell research which became effective in July 2009.  The order further authorized the NIH to “support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell research, to the extent permitted by law.”  The important words here are “human embryonic,” since the harvesting of stem cells from discarded human embryos is what started the stem cell funding controversy in the first place.  Further, this wording clearly eliminates the possibility of funding research projects involving stem cells that result from cloning.  Under previous U.S. regulations, federal research funds were granted only for work with 21 specific lines of stem cells that existed in 2001.  Harvesting and developing new embryonic lines did not qualify.

By mid-April 2009, the NIH had issued a new policy statement.  The issue of funding remains politically charged.  The NIH is taking a middle road.  Its guidelines state that embryos donated for such research must be given voluntarily and without financial inducement.  (Such embryos typically are donated by couples who have completed fertility treatments and have no need for remaining, redundant embryos.  This is a common practice in seeking laboratory-aided pregnancies.)



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