Stem cell research must expand to help minorities
By Russ Carnahan
U.S. Representative
I am proud to have been a co-sponsor of the legislation to increase federal funding for embryonic stem cell research that passed the U.S. House earlier this year.
Stem cells hold great potential for curing any number of diseases, including diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS, heart disease, and cancer, as well as spinal cord injuries. Many in our community suffer from these debilitating conditions, and they and their families look to this groundbreaking research with continued hope for cures.
This research has an especially great potential to help African-American families who suffer disproportionately from diabetes, heart disease and sickle cell anemia. The bill passed by the U.S. House was a step toward treatments that will improve the lives of African Americans, other minorities and all Americans.
Unfortunately, President Bush has threatened to veto this crucial, common-sense bill when it reaches his desk.
His current policy of drastically limiting funding for American scientists and researchers has put much of their work on hold. His administration limited the number of embryonic stem cell lines available for research to 19 out of possible thousands, many of which are contaminated beyond use.
In addition, these limited lines are not racially diverse and therefore do not offer enough possibilities to cure diseases affecting minority populations, such as sickle cell anemia. We must ease the president’s crippling restrictions and set reasonable, ethical standards to move this medical research forward.
Doctors and scientists, many working here in St. Louis, have struggled to find useable embryonic stem cell lines. Some have had to rely completely on limited private funding for their research, which has slowed their efforts significantly.
While they are delayed, lives are being lost.
Missouri should be one of the global leaders in stem cell research. However, because of the current restrictions, scientists who do stem cell research are taking their expertise to other countries. We have already lost too many leaders to other countries, and even other states, that actively pursue researchers and help fund stem cell research. We must retain our
region’s scientists and researchers, and continue to build new research facilities that create jobs and keep St. Louis as a bio-technology leader in the world.
Support for embryonic stem cell research transcends partisanship. More than 200 members of Congress, along with such organizations such as the St. Louis Clergy Coalition, the American Diabetes Association and the Parkinson’s Action Network, have voiced their support for extending stem cell research.
Together we must encourage our Missouri Senators to support the House bill expanding stem cell research when it reaches the U.S. Senate and ask the president not to veto the bill when it reaches his desk. We must make sure that the current policy of stifling science and limiting research will not end the promise of cures for millions of Americans.
U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, a member of the House Science Committee and its research subcommittee, is a co-sponsor of HR 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.