Stem cell research

DOJ: Stem Cell Ruling Would Have 'Devastating Impact' On Current Research

Ryan J. Reilly | August 31, 2010, 6:22PM

Scientists work on stem cell therapies for retinal degeneration.

The Obama administration on Tuesday filed a notice stating that it will appeal a court decision which halted federal funding of stem cell research, and filed an emergency motion requesting the court stay its preliminary injunction which banned the use of the funds.

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Stem cell research

Moderate GOPers In Tough Spot Over Stem Cell Research

Christina Bellantoni | August 30, 2010, 10:52AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Democrats are sounding increasingly confident they can work out a bipartisan legislative fix to get around a judge's order halting all stem cell research, but in an election year where everything matters, are moderate Republicans really going to go along with the majority party? And might that cost one GOPer his Senate bid?

The two clearest examples are Republican Senate candidates Rep. Mark Kirk (IL) and Rep. Mike Castle (DE), who Democrats told TPM last week they expect to continue to support embryonic stem cell research as they have before.

But Castle is locked in a tough and nasty fight with Christine O'Donnell, a tea party favorite who is looking to become the next conservative insurgent to topple the establishment's pick. With the O'Donnell campaign targeting evangelical voters in advance of a Sept. 14 primary that could have fewer than 50,000 voters, this could be the issue to turn the race.

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Stem cell research

Stem Cell Research Plaintiffs Fight For Personal Beliefs, Win On Financial Grounds

Christina Bellantoni | August 27, 2010, 10:06AM

A senior instrumentation specialist places stem cell samples in an automated incubation system.

The plaintiffs in the case that brought embryonic stem cell research to a screeching halt believe that allowing the practice financially harms their own research using non-embryonic stem cells, which they also claim is a better alternative. Backed by pro-life and religious groups, the key plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit, Dr. Theresa Deisher and Dr. James Sherley, have convinced a judge to place an injunction on federally-funded embryonic stem cell research, putting more restrictions on funding than there were during the Bush administration.

But neither scientist is strictly in it for the money. For instance, in a 2008 Blog Talk Radio interview (available here) Deisher linked the long-range lifesaving potential of stem cell research as being similar to a "nebulous promise" of constructing Martian housing.

"I don't know that in 30 years we won't be able to build apartments in Mars, but right now we have a need for housing here now and that's what the money should go for," Deisher said. "It's the same in the stem cell area. Right now we have safe effective and affordable adult stem cell therapies. That's where our money should go."

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Stem cell research

Key Democrat Says Leadership Will Act Quickly On Stem Cell Research

Christina Bellantoni | August 25, 2010, 1:30PM

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)

Democrats are strongly considering swift legislative action to allow embryonic stem cell research to continue in the wake of a district court judge's ruling that abruptly stopped all research.

Rep. Diana DeGette, who has championed stem cell research measures for years, briefed House Democrats via phone yesterday on the surprise ruling that experts told us puts scientific research back to a more restrictive level than it was under President George W. Bush.

DeGette (D-CO) told TPM in a phone interview last night that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of leadership are "very concerned" and she believes legislation could be passed as early as next month.

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Stem cell research

Harkin Will Hold Hearings On Court Ruling Ending Funding For Stem Cell Research

Christina Bellantoni | August 24, 2010, 3:49PM

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

As Democrats in Congress scramble to figure out their options in the wake of a judge's decision to halt federally funded embryonic stem cell research pending trial, TPM has learned that Sen. Tom Harkin's Labor-HHS Appropriations subcommittee will hold hearings next month when the Senate comes back into session.

Harkin spokeswoman Bergen Kenny said the hearings will be held Sept. 16. Congress returns from recess earlier that week. They are still in the very early planning stages, so no title or witness list is yet available. The hearings will be raised in this subcommittee because it handles funding for the Department of Health and Human Services. The Dickey-Wicker amendment central to District Court Judge Royce Lambreth's ruling yesterday is attached to the HHS budget.

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Stem cell research

Stem Cell Ruling Limits Administration's, Scientists' Options

Christina Bellantoni | August 24, 2010, 10:10AM

A U.S. District Court judge's ruling yesterday halting the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research with a preliminary injunction pending a trial has left the scientific community stunned, and Congress wondering if any next steps are possible in an election year. The administration's silence isn't unexpected, but it's more surprising that senators or members of Congress known to be supportive of stem cell research haven't commented.

While U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth explicitly stated the government is barred from taking "any action whatsoever" in his ruling, several experts TPM contacted said it's not clear if scientists will need to stop work already in progress or if they will just be restricted from obtaining any new funding. Even the lawyers for the plaintiffs told the Washington Post they need Lamberth to clarify the existing versus new funding question. But people in both the legal and scientific fields believe the temporary injunction makes research funding even more restrictive than it was under former President George W. Bush's administration. Though not spelled out explicitly in the ruling, the most common interpretation is that research conducted under the Bush-era policy of allowing research into existing stem cells lines would be halted under the ruling.

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Stem cell research

Court Halts Federal Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Christina Bellantoni | August 23, 2010, 4:14PM

Scientists work on stem cell therapies for retinal degeneration.

A U.S. district court today halted the federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, saying it involves the destruction of human embryos, potentially re-igniting a longtime cultural hot button issue just in time for the fall elections.

The Washington-based court was ruling in favor of a June lawsuit filed by a researcher objecting to President Obama's policy allowing federal funding. Obama overturned former President George W. Bush's policy by implementing new National Institutes of Health guidelines shortly after taking office. Obama's March 2009 decision reversed Bush's August 2001 actions. Congress twice tried to circumvent Bush, passing a bill allowing for federal funding, but Bush vetoed the measure each time.

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