Human stem cells undergo division

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

America Steps Forward on Stem Cell Funds … So What About Germany?

"The U.S. is at the forefront of scientific research and its re-involvement in one of the most important areas of basic medical research is a boon to the entire world. Germany, with its strict laws against stem cell research, still has time to reflect, but sooner or later time will run out."

By Hartmut Wewetzer

Translated By Jonathan Lobsien

March 10, 2009

Germany - Der Tagesspiegel - Original Article (German)

It was a day long-awaited by American researchers and patient groups: On Monday, the U.S. President removed a huge barrier from the path of U.S. stem cell research. Barack Obama’s predecessor had largely blocked federal funding for stem cell research. For George Bush it was not acceptable that embryos in the early stages of development were destroyed for the production of human embryonic stem cells.

Bush’s ban is now history, even if there remains another hurdle. The Dickey-Wicker amendment, signed under Bill Clinton, forbids federal funding for experimentation on human embryos. That means that American researchers may henceforth conduct research on embryonic stem cells, but they may not extract them from embryos. At least not with money from the U.S. budget.

Nevertheless, it's clear that American stem cell research will now gain momentum. In recent years, U.S. scientists had to look on with gritted teeth as generous aid was allocated to human embryonic stem cell research in Great Britain, Israel, Scandinavia and even Catholic Spain. That brought many American researchers into open opposition with the Bush Administration. California launched its own multi-billion dollar funding program and Harvard University established a research center on its own.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

READ ALSO:

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany: America Steps Forward

on Stem Cell Funding ... So What About Germany?

La Stampa, Italy: Obama and Stem Cells - A Challenge to Europe

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Stem Cells - Welcome Back to the 21st Century, America

El Pais, Spain: Stem Cells and Health Care: America's 'Greatest Revolution'

The U.S. is at the forefront of scientific research and its re-involvement in one of the most important areas of basic medical research is a boon to the entire world. The potential for stem cell research is great, ranging from the fight against chronic diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's to the treatment of physical injuries, for example to the spinal column. In addition, stem cells can broaden our understanding of other diseases.

The biggest advances in recent years have not been made with stem cells obtained from embryos, but with reprogrammed "adult" stem cells from the skin, for example. That much at least is ethically unproblematic. In Germany, however, attempts are being made to pit the various research approaches against one another in the spirit of “good researcher” versus “bad researcher.” But that’s counterproductive. One still needs to continue cultivating embryonic stem cells, at least for comparison as well as the development of a trusted scientific foundation.

It will be years before therapies based on stem cell research are available to patients. Germany, with its strict laws against stem cell research, still has time to reflect. But sooner or later time will run out. And the same politicians that now oppose relaxing these laws on moral grounds will likely change their plea … on moral grounds, of course.

CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 11, 11:59pm]