The Keene Sentinel - A New Direction in Stem Cell Research

Op-Ed

The Keene Sentinel - A New Direction in Stem Cell Research

By: Jeanne Shaheen

Last week, Michael J. Fox was gracious enough to join me in Durham and Manchester for discussions about America's need for a new direction in stem cell research. Since announcing his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease in 1998, Michael has been a tireless advocate for the expansion of stem cell research and the development of better treatments and a cure for Parkinson's disease. His work has taken him across the country, increasing awareness for millions of Americans about the need for a new direction in stem cell research.

Seven years ago, in August 2001, President George W. Bush announced a policy restricting funding for embryonic stem cell research, furthering his own ideological beliefs instead of the public good.

Luckily, in November, we have the opportunity to move in a new direction on this issue that is so critical for so many families. We've already lost seven years in the development of potential treatments and cures. We simply can't afford to lose any more time.

As some of you may already know, this has recently become a personal issue for me. Elle, my eldest granddaughter, who is 8, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year. I believe that Elle and kids just like her here in New Hampshire and all over the country deserve the very best medical care we can give them.

I've always been an advocate for encouraging researchers and scientists to look to stem cells to develop new treatments and cures, but since Elle's diagnosis, the days that pass without a cure feel even longer.

Today, there are fewer than two dozen embryonic stem cell lines available for federally funded research; those available are aging and contaminated, and there are not enough to offer genetic diversity. Not to mention that the limitations on adult stem cell research are significant. For example, adult stem cell research doesn't hold the promise of a cure for diabetes, since adult stem cells cannot develop pancreatic cells. As a result of these federal funding barriers, progress and potential treatments have been delayed.

In 2007, when given the chance to put science ahead of extremism and fully fund embryonic stem cell research, John Sununu was the only senator in New England to vote no.

New Hampshire's families deserve better and need a new direction in stem cell policy. To achieve that, we need a new senator in Washington who will fight every day to make sure our families have the right to the best medical research available.

I believe we should not only permit, but also encourage researchers to pursue both embryonic and adult stem cell research, with guidance and ethical oversight from the National Institutes for Health. In the Senate, I will work to overturn the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and open the door to expanded research for our families.

Recently, scientists at Harvard and Columbia announced a breakthrough in generating embryonic-like stem cells, but their work in developing treatments with actual embryonic stem cells has been thwarted because of the Bush administration's ban on funding this research. Kevin Eggan, the co-author of the paper and a principal faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, cautioned that "embryonic stem cell work is still crucial," and his laboratory continues to try to develop the technique, which many have called the gold standard in stem cell research.

This announcement underscores the fact that American scientists are resourceful and innovative in developing this research, and I believe that we should not be establishing political barriers to finding cures and treatments for millions of Americans because George Bush and John Sununu hold extreme and out-of-touch positions on this critical issue.

The United States of America has always led the way in developing new technologies and treatments, establishing our hospitals and research facilities as the best in the world. Yet, when it comes to stem cell research, one of the most critical avenues for developing new medical breakthroughs, that has not been the case.

We need to restore America's role as a leader in technology and medical innovation that places a premium on scientific evidence, not ideology.

New Hampshire's families, and my granddaughter, Elle, are counting on a new direction in Washington.

To achieve that, we need a new senator who will fight every day to encourage research and development in all kinds of stem cell research so we can give families facing a terrifying diagnosis new hope for a treatment or a cure.

Former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Source