Embryonic Stem Cell Research Divisive Issue In Many States That Fund It, Los Angeles Times Reports

August 4, 2007 – 11:37 am | posted in Stem Cell Research

Human embryonic stem cell research has “quickly become one of the hottest and most divisive” issues in state legislatures nationwide, and groups in several states have attempted to overturn measures that fund the research, the Los Angeles Times reports.

More than 100 stem cell research-related bills have been introduced in state legislatures so far this year. Six states — Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota and South Dakota — ban most or all embryonic stem cell research, and seven states — California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin — provide some funding for the research. Some states, such as Missouri, do not fund the research but have passed legislation stating that scientists will not be fined or prosecuted for conducting embryonic stem cell research.

Although Missouri voters in November 2006 voted to protect the research, opponents are working to overturn the measure in the next election, the Times reports. Many scientists who considered moving to Missouri to conduct stem cell research will not come to the state because of the “uncertainty” over whether the legislation will be overturned, the Times reports. In addition, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research last week canceled plans to expand in Kansas City, Mo., because it was unable to recruit top stem cell researchers. The institute also transferred a large portion of its $2 million endowment to Delaware because the political climate in Missouri was “too hostile,” according to the Times.

A Florida Senate committee this spring passed separate bills that would both permit and prohibit state funding for the research, but both bills failed to advance, the Times reports. Lawmakers in Connecticut last fall introduced a bill to ban embryonic stem cell research after the state began sending funding to scientists. Some lawmakers in Maryland and Illinois also have attempted to ban the research since funding has been allocated.

California’s Proposition 71 — the “most vigorous and well-funded grant program” for stem cell research nationwide — has been challenged in court by groups opposed to the research, the Times reports. Funding from bonds for California’s $3 billion program recently became available more than two years after it was challenged in court.

Patrick Kelly — vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a national trade group — said that embryonic stem cell research “comes up on a regular basis in every state of the union, and every time it comes up, it pits two very entrenched, very dogged sides against each other.” Sigrid Fry-Revere, director of bioethics studies at the Cato Institute, said, “There’s a lot of pressure to cut off funding,” adding, “It’s happening all over the country” (Simon, Los Angeles Times, 8/1).

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