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DEL.ICIO.USIf Obama lifts restrictions on stem cell research, look for a Georgia attempt to replace them
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama is expected to lift the 7-year-old federal restriction on embryonic stem cell research.
When that happens, certain state lawmakers will attempt to recreate a state version of the blockade in Georgia, sparking yet another Capitol fight over the thorny issue of science, religion and moral boundaries.
The battle will draw close attention from the state’s university system — not to mention a budding biotech industry. Tens of millions of dollars in research grants are at stake.
Beyond African-Americans, scientists are perhaps the demographic group most delighted by the end of the George W. Bush administration. Too often, many of them argued, the White House placed ideology above researched fact.
One of the deepest wells of scientific resentment can be found in the field of embryonic stem cell research. For more than 10 years, scientists have drooled over stem cells as a source of replacement tissue damaged or destroyed by a range of diseases and injuries.
Diabetes, spinal cord injuries, deafness, blindness, you name it.
While stem cells have been discovered in many forms of adult tissue, researchers say the most potent lines are developed from newly formed embryos — clumps of a handful of cells — discarded by fertility clinics.
But because the discarded embryos are destroyed in the process, many Christian conservatives — though not all — equate the practice with abortion.
In the early months of his first term, President Bush limited federal funding to research involving embryonic stem cell lines already in use. He barred the use of federal dollars for any research that involved the creation of more.
Many scientists argue that the decision crippled one of the most promising initiatives of a generation. Some states, Georgia not among them, began funding research on their own.
For three years, University of Georgia researcher Steve Stice has worked with Republicans to broker a compromise on the issue.
He’s eager to see Obama lift the ban. “I’m all for it,” he said. “The larger question, and what everybody hopes for, is that there’ll be some federal funding that will follow as well.”
One UGA biochemist recently landed a $9.2 million grant for stem cell research. Stice himself recently landed a share of a Department of Defense grant — “north of $4 million.”
The Pentagon has been a major backer of stem cell research, Stice said. “We’re trying to find a way to replace bone that has been damaged, to get soldiers — and then civilians — walking on injured limbs.”
So far, the Department of Defense has demanded that research be restricted to the use of adult stem cells. That could change if Obama reverses the Bush order, Stice said.
But should the new president do so, you can expect Republicans in Georgia to respond with an attempt to forbid any federally funded research involving embryonic stem cells at state universities labs. The use of state funds was prohibited in 2006.
“I would assume there will be an effort to restrict embryonic stem cell research. Georgia would stake out its ground as being pro-life,” said state Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah).
Johnson is now running for lieutenant governor, but until recently was the ranking member of the Senate. (Johnson also headed up a special committee that examined whether a limit could be placed on the number of embryos created by fertility clinics.)
Stice hopes a state ban won’t happen. “If Georgia’s going to do this on stem cells, what kind of environment is it for all kinds of biotechnology?” he asked.
Business interests blunted efforts to restrict stem cell research two years ago. And an international biotech conference in Atlanta — a prime recruiting opportunity for the state’s economic development arm — is set for May. So the GOP’s pro-life forces may be forced to hold fire during this session of the Legislature.
Nor are Republicans unanimous in their opinions about embryonic stem cell research. State Rep. Bob Smith (R-Athens), 55, lost 80 percent of his hearing when he was a child. It’s never returned.
But Smith recently asked Stice to help him recruit a team of researchers to the state to work toward a cure for all kinds of deafness. If embryonic stem cell research is part of that, Smith said, so be it.
Comments
By A ? for the blogmeister
January 18, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this
Political Insider,
Can you address, as a political insider, some insight into the mindset of the Republican Party? Specifically how, going on two terms of Sonny, with a Republican majority, with the party that talks of traditional values, law and order, and all the rest, how have we never had even ONE Republican, from Sonny, to Kathy Cox, to anyone in the legislature come out admit discipline is a major problem in the public schools, and that we need to give schools more authority, and hold them more accountable, in removing the disruptive students who refuse to obey the teacher’s authority.
I can’t find a single instance of a Republican, who allegedly represents traditional values willing to speak to this uneqivocal truth.
And “political insider” insight into that?
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
January 18, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this
Sociopaths reconfigure their reality to what suits them, not the truth.
Republicans are, by and large, sociopaths.
By Republican reality
January 18, 2009 5:50 PM | Link to this
I wish I could find the quote, but there was an article about the very same thing Aaron Burr V Mexico said. Operatives in the Bush administration were actually quoted as saying that they are the ones making the reality, and therefore news reports as to what is really going on should be discounted.
Not sure if it meets the clinical definition of sociopath, but it does seem to meet the definition of operating with one’s head up his arse.
By marty
January 18, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this
yea buddy, keep those aborted fetuses coming. supply side economics rule!
By Dr. Aborto
January 18, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
I have hope that the libs and other democrat voters will eventually abort themselves into extinction.
By Typical, yet pathetic
January 18, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this
Just like a typical Georgia neocon. Fight to the death over a stem cell, but do nothing for a full born human; ruining the educational opportunities for millions of Georgia’s students by being totally unwilling to address the discipline problems that plague the public schools. Yeah, we know General Assembly; there are no poorly behaved children, just bad teachers, right?
Maybe they could use some stem cells to grow themselves a backbone something evolution apparently hasn’t addressed for either Sonny or the General Assembly.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
January 18, 2009 11:36 PM | Link to this
Well the good news Dr. Aborto is, that the Republican is making more and more astounding advances at denying reality. Soon, they will all have peril sensitive sunglasses that will allow them to simply pretend that Democrats do not exist, living in their own interactive virtual reality.
We won’t miss you.
By Angelina Mancuso
January 19, 2009 3:55 AM | Link to this
Stem cells could have saved my mother’s life.
I wish that those that are against it could see the heartbreak of the family of someone stem cells could have helped. I miss my mom everyday and feel that in stem cells could help others in the future.
By Angelina Mancuso
January 19, 2009 3:58 AM | Link to this
Stem cells could have saved my mother’s life.
I wish that those that are against it could see the heartbreak of the family of someone stem cells could have helped. I miss my mom everyday and feel that in stem cells could help others in the future.
By Kathleen
January 19, 2009 6:22 AM | Link to this
Diabetes, brain injuries, deafness, blindness, spinal cord injuries, head injuries? This could possibly change the face of our medical community and society as we know it. I for one hope this gets President Obama’s immediate attention.
By Dano
January 19, 2009 6:24 AM | Link to this
Come on folks, look at the facts. Bush was never against stem cell research, just federal funding of it. Corporations and research facilities would love for the government to pay for the research. If they were so fired up about embyronic stem cell research they would have found private funding. And by the way, there has NEVER been any proven benifit to embyronic stem cell use, only adult stem cells have proven time and time again to hold promise for future cures of medical issues. Just like every thing else today, it’s all about the money.
By Kris B
January 19, 2009 7:03 AM | Link to this
Dano - your statement that “there has NEVER been any proven benifite (sic) to embronic stem cell use” is just plain false. Read the research. There have been many announcments just in the last 3-4 months about successful stem cell therapy results in the labs. Scientists will tell you that adult stem cells simply don’t replicate fast enough to be useful in most targeted cures. And there has been a federal law in place banning the sale of any fetal tissue long before Bush’s 2001 decision. Embryonic stem cell therapy will be looked back on as one of the seminal events in curing many genetic diseases once all of the hysteria gives way to fact.
By Multiple Sclerosis
January 19, 2009 7:57 AM | Link to this
Stem cells will likely save my life someday. Women will continue to have abortions even if the embryo is not used. Seems pretty simple- save the lives of millions of Americans while using what is already discarded. Kind-of like recycling?
By Chris Broe
January 19, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this
Stem Cell research is easily sold to victims of life-threatening disease. If they were the only voters, we’d be long down the path to curing those same diseases. Cloning too, has the promise of curing fatal diseases. I wish we could clone MLK.
was listening to MLK’s “I have a dream” speech on television this morning. When I was a child, I thought JFK was our greatest speaker. His accent was new to me and I just loved the effect his words had on my young spirit. If I listen to JFK today, at 57, the spell is broken and I understand that he was of his time in the sixties, like the Beatles.
MLK had the best delivery of any speaker in my lifetime. He could be the greatest American Speaker. His speeches are so powerful that he could be the Greatest Living American Speaker. His words certainly live and breath and inspire me down to my core.
My dreams are about personal ambition, (and petty revenge fantasies where my enemies sing off key and I guest solo on the Rubber Soul album.) MLK dreamt for this country’s ambition, where liberty’s enemies would come to understand the true meaning of Justice in America.
Justice in America: Is that light at the end of the tunnel the train Obama took to Washington?
By Black Female Engineer
January 19, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this
I am a Black woman who is proud to see a person of color become president. Yet, I am concerned. The defense budget is number one on the chopping block.
The area of defense employs some of the brightest and best engineers, scientists and personnel in the world. It is a diverse group of Americans. While it has not made us rich, we are providing a much needed service to our country, keeping the America on the edge of cutting technology and providing for our families. We are a group of Americans who have followed the rules, bought homes we can afford, volunteer in the community, maintain good credit, drive cars we can afford, etc.
What do I tell my children when they look at me and say, “Mom, we have a Black president, why are you losing your job?”
I pray President Obama sees the need for continued production of the F-22 and our necessary defense programs. His first priority should be to take care of home and Americans.
By Copyleft
January 19, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this
“The defense budget is number one on the chopping block. The area of defense employs some of the brightest and best engineers, scientists and personnel in the world.”
Then isn’t it about time America put those brilliant scientists and engineers to work doing something worthwhile and positive for a change?
By Black Female Engineer
January 19, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this
Copyleft, do you realize the research in defense and space is used in many of areas? Also, the employees of those defense companies also give back to the community in many ways…Habitat for Humanity, Walk for Babies, etc…the funds and time we give back to the community is endless. The jobs that are created due to the money we put back in the economy is great.
By Copyleft
January 19, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this
Glad to hear it… and they can keep making contributions to charity and community service when we’ve put their skills to better use than designing bombs and fighter jets that don’t work and aren’t needed.
By sandy
January 21, 2009 9:33 PM | Link to this
I think they should take all that money that’s been poured into “faith based” iniatives and put it toward embryonic stem-cell research; call it a reality based iniative.
By Dan G.
January 23, 2009 4:43 PM | Link to this
Just imagine…
American men, women and children who are paralyzed, some who have never walked before, can suddenly walk again.
How about diabetics who siffer from nerve damage to their feet, potentially healed.
How about the LOWER COSTS of healthcare because of the benefits this research can provide.
Don’t talk to me about “aborted fetuses”, another myth. These are stem cells that, if unused, are literally thrown into the garbage after a certain amount of time.
If this isn’t “pro-life”, I don’t know what is.
It’s time for America, and especially Georgia, to become true leaders in science, progress and morality