October 9, 2007
Romney Stem-Cell Restrictions to Be Rescinded
On the campaign trail, the Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, who used to be governor of Massachusetts, has talked up his opposition to expanding research on human embryonic stem cells.
But back in his home state, a panel appointed by his successor, Gov. Deval L. Patrick, a Democrat, is about to reverse stem-cell rules imposed by Mr. Romney’s administration.
Scientists in the state say the restrictions put a chill on their work, undermining a 2005 law that was, in fact, intended to encourage the controversial research. (The state’s overwhelmingly Democratic legislature overrode Mr. Romney’s veto of the measure and have complained that the subsequent regulations were an end-run around the legislative process.)
One of the rules prohibited the creation of a fertilized embryo for the sole intent of “using” it for research. As a result, researchers in Massachusetts were forced to trace the history of any stem-cell lines they used, including those from states with less stringent guidelines, critics said.
The reversal is not unexpected — in her race against Mr. Patrick last year, even Mr. Romney’s lieutenant governor, Kerry Murphy, Healey called the regulations a “mistake” that could signal to stem-cell scientists that they are not wanted in Massachusetts. But the move could serve Mr. Romney well in Republican primaries, as he seeks to emphasize his conservative bona fides despite hailing from a state that is viewed as a liberal bastion.
For details about where some of the other Republican candidates stand on stem-cell research, check out this posting.
Karin Fischer | Posted on Tuesday October 9, 2007 | PermalinkComments
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Unfortunately, many of the candidates are not receiving an objective view of embryonic stem cell research challenges. They are getting input from the politically-motivated enthusiasts who have been promising breakthroughs and cures for years, mainly supported by self-serving scientists seeking more funding for their own laboratories. And there is remarkable silence about some of the real challenges with embryonic stem cells, such as uncontrolled proliferation or tumor growth, and the inability to turn gene products on and off at will, sometimes resulting in production of unwanted gene products. And getting the right number of cells to the right place at the right time is non-trivial. There also is remarkable silence about rejection problems and the need for immunosuppression. Unfortunately, trivial findings in transgenic mouse models end up as headlines in the newspapers predicting imminent cures for horrendous neurodegenerative diseases. This field is promoted with the same unsubstantiated and overblown hype that gene therapy has received, promising cures and breakthroughs that cannot be delivered, and may never be achievable. The more reasonable and less controversial approach using adult stem cells, now much easier to obtain with better cell sorting technology, is a far more reasonable and promising route for treatment of many diseases, but receives very little attention because it is not a good ideological and political tool for bashing opponents of embryonic stem cell research. Truth in advertising, an honest acknowledgement of the problems associated with embryonic stem cell research, and taking a step back from the vitriolic culture wars surrounding this area would be a welcomed relief.
— D. Felten Oct 9, 02:06 PM #
The entire discussion around stem cell research has been sidetracked by ideology, not fact or logic. Time and change in party power will reverse this unfortunate perversion of decision-making.
— Al Oct 9, 04:17 PM #
A man who believes the American Indians are a lost tribe of Hebrews has no business making any decisions regarding the future of the United States or medical research.
— marci Oct 9, 04:45 PM #
Why do we fight so hard for stem cell research which has produced no actual results but continue to ignore the actual breakthroughs that have happened as a result of using adult stem cells. I have a daughter with diabetes and would love nothing more than to have stem cell research find a cure, but I am frustrated by how we cling to what I consider to be the wrong one.
— Sharon Griffith Oct 9, 05:55 PM #