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Castle and DeGette Hail Passage of Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Legislation, Say It's Not a Replacement for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Saturday December 17, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2005
Contact: Chris Arend
(303) 844-4988
WASHINGTON, DC – Delaware Congressman Mike Castle and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today praised the passage of H.R. 2520, the "Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005." However, they emphasized that the legislation is absolutely not a replacement for H.R. 810, "The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005," which Castle and DeGette co-sponsored and passed in the House of Representatives in May on a vote of 238 to 194. The world's leading scientists believe embryonic stem cells are the greatest medical hope for the 21st century.
"I believe the passage of this stem cell legislation is certainly a step in the right direction, but today's bill is in no way a substitution for the potential advancement provided for in H.R. 810, which has the backing of many medical groups, leading scientists, several research universities and patient advocacy groups. Umbilical cord cells are adult stem cells, and while valuable for certain blood-related diseases, they are difficult to harvest and grow and do not exist for every tissue type. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have the potential to grow into any type of cell in the body, are easier to identify, isolate, purify and capable of continual reproduction," Castle said.
"I strongly support efforts to improve the registry for cord blood cells, which have been effective in treating blood-related diseases like sickle-cell anemia," said Rep. DeGette. "This bill passed the House by an overwhelming margin in May of this year. However, by acting on the cord blood bill without passing H.R. 810, the Castle/DeGette embryonic stem cell legislation, the House has taken only the first step towards finding a cure for diseases, which affect millions of Americans. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the second session of the 109th Congress to secure passage of H.R. 810, opening the frontiers of ethical scientific research that will truly provide cures for a wide variety of diseases."
There are a number of limitations to umbilical cord stem cells that do not apply to embryonic stem cells. These limitations include:
* Unlike human embryonic stem cells, stem cells from umbilical cord blood cannot continually reproduce themselves in petri dishes.
* Umbilical cord stem cells cannot be induced to form diverse non-blood cell types.
* Umbilical cord stem cells are in short supply.
Embryonic stem cells have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases and injuries because they can reproduce themselves almost indefinitely, and they can be induced to evolve into any cell type in the body. The best scientific evidence indicates that umbilical cord stem cells can do neither.
December 17, 2005
Contact: Chris Arend
(303) 844-4988
WASHINGTON, DC – Delaware Congressman Mike Castle and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today praised the passage of H.R. 2520, the "Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005." However, they emphasized that the legislation is absolutely not a replacement for H.R. 810, "The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005," which Castle and DeGette co-sponsored and passed in the House of Representatives in May on a vote of 238 to 194. The world's leading scientists believe embryonic stem cells are the greatest medical hope for the 21st century.
"I believe the passage of this stem cell legislation is certainly a step in the right direction, but today's bill is in no way a substitution for the potential advancement provided for in H.R. 810, which has the backing of many medical groups, leading scientists, several research universities and patient advocacy groups. Umbilical cord cells are adult stem cells, and while valuable for certain blood-related diseases, they are difficult to harvest and grow and do not exist for every tissue type. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have the potential to grow into any type of cell in the body, are easier to identify, isolate, purify and capable of continual reproduction," Castle said.
"I strongly support efforts to improve the registry for cord blood cells, which have been effective in treating blood-related diseases like sickle-cell anemia," said Rep. DeGette. "This bill passed the House by an overwhelming margin in May of this year. However, by acting on the cord blood bill without passing H.R. 810, the Castle/DeGette embryonic stem cell legislation, the House has taken only the first step towards finding a cure for diseases, which affect millions of Americans. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the second session of the 109th Congress to secure passage of H.R. 810, opening the frontiers of ethical scientific research that will truly provide cures for a wide variety of diseases."
There are a number of limitations to umbilical cord stem cells that do not apply to embryonic stem cells. These limitations include:
* Unlike human embryonic stem cells, stem cells from umbilical cord blood cannot continually reproduce themselves in petri dishes.
* Umbilical cord stem cells cannot be induced to form diverse non-blood cell types.
* Umbilical cord stem cells are in short supply.
Embryonic stem cells have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases and injuries because they can reproduce themselves almost indefinitely, and they can be induced to evolve into any cell type in the body. The best scientific evidence indicates that umbilical cord stem cells can do neither.
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