Medical Research

Stem cells are the master cells for human development, and may be critical to curing diseases and conditions such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, ALS and many others. Stem cells hold the most promise for those devastating diseases where cells are damaged or malfunctioning, and might be replaced.

On August 9, 2001, President George Bush announced a plan for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that falls short of what a majority of Americans – and most members of the scientific and patient-health communities – support. He declared that the federal government would begin to pay for a limited amount of research on stem cells from human embryos.

The President’s action set into motion a series of debates and decisions regarding embryonic stem cell research. The Foundation remains committed to full federal funding for this research, without the limitations imposed by the Bush Administration. In addition, we support somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning, and have worked to protect this research in Congress and at the individual state level through our membership and participation in the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR).

Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research

In his August 2001 decision, President Bush said federal grants may be used to conduct studies solely on stem cell lines that have already been created from embryos left over at fertility clinics. But he prohibited using federal funds for research conducted based on creating or destroying additional embryos. The Foundation believes that the Administration’s policy needs to be expanded and many members of Congress agree. MORE...

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ("Therapeutic Cloning")

To enable the continuation of effective embryonic stem cell research, we need to ensure that somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), or "therapeutic cloning" of human cells, continues to be legal in the United States. At the same time, the Foundation supports efforts to prohibit reproductive cloning. MORE...

California and Other States

In the absence of federal action banning or permitting reproductive and/or therapeutic cloning, a number of states throughout the nation, with California leading the way, continue to consider or have acted on proposals regarding stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). MORE...

Stem Cell Research Links

A number of patient-health organizations, industry groups, educational institutions, advocacy groups, and government web sites provide helpful information on stem cell research and related scientific issues. MORE...




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