Nebraska Regents Set to Vote on Restoring Bush-Era Limits on Stem-Cell Studies

A multiyear battle between scientific researchers and religiously motivated activists is due to reach a showdown next Friday, when the eight-member Board of Regents at the University of Nebraska is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would require its medical center to observe limits on embryonic-stem-cell research imposed during the administration of President George W. Bush.

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Comments

1. panacea - November 13, 2009 at 12:24 pm

What a way to shoot yourself in the foot.

Other academic institutions will take the lead if U of N decides not to participate in this kind of research. They will make themselves less attractive to potential faculty and students.

But of course, if that's what they want, so be it.

2. tiburon - November 13, 2009 at 02:14 pm

3. blackbart - November 13, 2009 at 02:50 pm

tiburon: I don't know. I wonder what I should expect from name-calling, churlish trolls posting anonymous slams on a CHE blog?

4. pamblome - November 13, 2009 at 03:13 pm

As an alum from the U. of Nebraska, I'm ashamed they would even consider such a damaging policy. This will discourage potential faculty from wanting to join their medical school.

5. oldcommprof - November 13, 2009 at 05:35 pm

It used to be Kansas -- now, apparently, it's "What's Wrong with Nebraska?"

6. raymond_j_ritchie - November 15, 2009 at 11:06 pm

The regeants at Uni of Nebraska could surely think of something better to do. Simply makes the place look silly. Human stem cells are a culture of cells. Contrary to what some nutters think, you do not go down to the nearest abortion clinic and collect some bits and pieces after closing time. Would it be illegal at Uni of Nebraska to work on a culture given to you by a colleague in San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong or London? What about a staff member going to a mates lab in Canada and working on stem cells there? Would they be fired? Come off it!

7. mrmars - November 16, 2009 at 01:39 am

I'd like to second the thoughts of "pamblome" above. As a UNL Ph.D. who was privileged to study under two National Academy of Science faculty, and one who would be elected after I left, I find it hard to believe such an inane policy is even being considered by the Regents, nor that it would be condoned by most of Nebraska's citizens. The Nebraskans I knew in Lincoln as neighbors, friends, and fellow church-goers were far too intelligent and progressive to support such a policy.

8. willynilly - November 16, 2009 at 10:07 am

This is just more evidence of stupid, weak-kneed Trustees who are willing to bow down to loud mouth, open-wallet religious zealots, who value politics more than they value the improvement of the human condition. Aspiring medical students and highly competent faculty BEWARE

9. tabtab - November 16, 2009 at 11:41 am

I lived in Lincoln and worked at UNL for 5 years. I still remember the hordes of religious zealot parents lining both sides of O Street for a mile or more with their children in tow, who they had dressed up in anti-abortion sandwich boards. You can't make this stuff up! There's a streak of Puritanism in Lincoln about which outsiders know little.

10. tiburon - November 17, 2009 at 05:51 pm