NIH Press Advisory
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
 Office of the Director, NIH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 9, 2001		 Contact:
NIH Communications Office
(301) 496-4461

NIH Statement on the President's Stem Cell Address

We are pleased with the President's decision to allow the use of Federal funds for important basic research on human embryonic stem cells. The approach he has outlined is sound, and we understand the President's clear desire to move forward with care. Using the more than 60 existing cell lines from around the world, many more researchers will now be able to explore the potential of human embryonic stem cells, in addition to the extensive work already sponsored by NIH using human adult stem cells. We believe this combined research has high potential both for opening new doors in basic scientific understanding and for discovery of new treatments for some of our most devastating diseases.

Ruth Kirschstein, M.D.
NIH Acting Director