Posted on: Monday, May 23, 2005

EDITORIAL
It's time to amend U.S. stem-cell policy

The success of South Korean scientists — who last week produced human embryonic clones of sick or injured patients and harvested stem cells — demonstrates the need to more aggressively explore the promise of stem-cell research.

From the embryos, the research team extracted cells that match the patients genetically and immunologically. And although it may be years before this technology is used in a clinical setting, many scientists now say prospects for growing stem-cell-derived replacement tissue for the sick and seriously injured look better than ever.

Unfortunately, as science moves forward, here in the United States, we're still locked in an ideological debate.

The White House is lobbying to defeat bipartisan legislation that would ease restrictions on stem-cell research by Americans. But President Bush surely faces an uphill battle here. Some GOP lawmakers say they see the value in funding stem-cell research. Still, Bush has said he would veto the measure, should it clear Congress.

Stem-cell research holds amazing promise. Proponents believe that it could lead to cures or new treatments for more than 70 diseases, from Alzheimer's to juvenile diabetes to Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. And promising tests have already been done in the area of spinal cord injuries.

Opponents believe the research amounts to an immoral taking of embryonic life. It's that view that threatens prospects for a pivotal line of inquiry.

South Korean scientists have achieved an impressive feat. And if the process can be replicated elsewhere, individualized stem cells could be grown to produce tissues suitable for transplants without running the risk of rejection.

It's time for the United States to revisit its restrictive policy on stem-cell research, lest we relinquish our position as a cradle for scientific discovery.