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'U' researchers laud Obama's stem cell decision
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Stem Cell Institute are pleased with President Obama's decision to lift strict limits on embryonic stem cell research. "It is good news," says Jonathan Slack, the institute's director. "It's good news for science and good news for Minnesota." Under the Bush administration, 'U' researchers have been limited the past eight years to studying adult stem cells and some older embryonic stem cells. "It slowed things down," Slack says. "It has made it more difficult." Slack says researchers have still made some impressive gains, but he now expects things to speed up. "I'm more optimistic than ever that in the long run, this will lead to some striking new therapies," he says. Many scientists believe embryonic stem cells hold the possibility for treating ailments like diabetes, Parkinson's and heart disease. President Obama signed an executive order Monday repealing a Bush-era policy that limited federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research. "Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find treatments for the cures we seek," President Obama said Monday. "No president can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them." The move was met with criticism. "Just because you can do something scientifically doesn't mean you should do it," says Tom Prichard with the Minnesota Family Council. Prichard says destroying human embryos raises too many ethical and moral questions. He argues that researchers are making progress with adult stem cells and embryonic-like cells made from adult stem cells. "That's the direction we should go," Prichard says. Monday's move by Obama means researchers can use federal funding to work with embryonic stem cells but not to make embryonic stem cells. Federal law prevents that, but Obama is pushing for bipartisan legislation to ease restrictions even further.
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