Stem Cell Policy Change Stirs Debate
Researchers say that cures for everything from Parkinson's
to paralysis can be found in human embryos.
But under the Bush administration,
scientists could not use federal tax dollars, to test that theory.
On Monday, President Obama will also change that with a stroke of pain.
It's the end of an eight-year battle,
for Dr. Irving Weissman of Stanford Medical School.
it means that we're free now to study Parkinson's disease.
We're free now to study Lou Gerhig's disease.
a major change in stem cell policy on Monday.
Embryonic stem cells are the body's shape shifters.
Scientists believe they can become any cell in the body
nerve cells to repair a damaged spinal chord,
or pancreatic cells to produce enough insulin for diabetics.
Under Bush, that research had to be privately funded,
which supporters say slowed it down.
Karl Robb has had Parkinson's since he was 17. He's now 42 ?
and he's hoping Monday's announcement will speed the research up.
Chronic illness is a race against time.
Everyday, everyday you die a little.
We've been waiting eight years and eight years has been way too long.
The controversy with embryonic stem cells:
Harvesting them destroys the embryos.
Opponents say that's the same as abortion.
They also point out there have been major strides using adult stem cells.
Using embryos is old science, bad health care.
"It's the adult stem cells that help patients now.
It's not yet clear whether scientists will be allowed
to create new embryos, or will be limited to using embryos
already created in fertility clinics, and no longer needed.
The Robbs say either way, lifting the ban
could help the chronically ill live longer, and better lives.
Don't we owe them something to provide them
whatever resources we can to help with either therapies
or a cure for their diseases?.
I think we owe them that.
This is going to allow our best and brightest to do
the work that needs to be done that hasn't been done for so long.
Discoveries won't be announced overnight.
Even after the president signs this order,
the National Institutes of Health has to rewrite the guidelines.
So it could be up to a year before we see
any of this new federally-funded research kick in