Letter to U.S. Senators on H.R. 810

July 11, 2006

Dear Senator,

As representatives of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), we are writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to support passage of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

Passage of H.R. 810 would ensure that scientists in the United States can use Federal grant funds to study the many valuable human embryonic stem cell lines that have been developed since August 9, 2001, the date that President Bush announced his stem cell research policy. Indeed, H.R. 810 is the only bill to be considered that would accelerate research dedicated to finding better therapies for patients suffering from a wide variety of terrible diseases.

As the primary international organization of scientific, ethical, and clinical researchers in the field of stem cell biology, ISSCR speaks for our many members who study stem cells of all types. H.R. 810 is consistent with long-standing scientific and ethical positions of ISSCR.

Our scientific opinion is that research on stem cells of all types should be pursued with the goals of reducing human suffering and better understanding human physiology. Our ethical opinion is that H.R. 810 also includes safeguards to ensure that appropriate research practices are followed.

Our strong support of H.R. 810 is based on the newest research findings presented at our recent annual international meeting in Toronto, Canada. At this four-day meeting of more than 2000 scientists, clinicians, and ethicists from over 40 countries, leading researchers from around the world presented their most recent findings on stem cells of all types.

New data presented at this meeting demonstrated that many of the human embryonic stem cell lines generated since August 9, 2001 have excellent characteristics, and appear to have substantial advantages for high quality and rigorous biomedical research.

The cutting edge research presented at this meeting also demonstrated once again the great potential for stem cell research of all types to lead to improved understanding and treatment of many terrible diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and others.

We are concerned that S. 2754 and S. 3504, the other bills that will be considered alongside H.R. 810, will do nothing to advance stem cell research. S. 2754 would simply endorse experimental approaches that are already legal and pursued by Federally funded researchers. S. 3504 would outlaw experimental approaches that stem cell researchers already consider unethical and have no intention of pursuing. Passage of S. 2754 and S. 3504 would thus contribute nothing to our ability to discover new therapies for diseases.

If supported instead of H.R. 810, S. 2754 and S. 3504 would continue the inadequate American Federal policy that is delaying worldwide progress in this vital area of research.

In closing, we remind you that the welfare of millions of people worldwide depends on medical research that can help alleviate the suffering caused by injury and illness. Passage of H.R. 810 will help to meet this scientific and medical challenge and will also send a message of hope to the many American patients that could be helped by research with new stem cell lines.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue. We look forward to a change in American Federal policy so that the very best scientific and clinical research can proceed.

Sincerely,

Posted: July 12, 2006