Stem Cell Research
Urge the Senate to Support Stem Cell Research and Save Lives
On July 18th, 2006, the United States Senate passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810) in a vote of 63-37. The House passed its version of the bill in a strongly bipartisan vote of 238-194 on May 24. 2005. Unfortunately, President Bush has indicated that he will veto this bill, which has the potential to save millions of lives. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would open up stem cell lines for federally-funded research ensuring that embryos used to derive stem cells were originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need; that the individuals seeking fertility treatments for whom the embryos were created have determined that the embryos will not be implanted in a woman and will otherwise be discarded; and that the individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation.
Take action and write an e-mail to your Senators by visiting our Legislative Action Center or reach Senators directly by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121
Reasons to Support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 471) include:
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Will Save Lives . Stem cell research has already provided, and holds tremendous promise to continue to provide, great progress for finding a cure or treatment for conditions including breast and prostate cancer, leukemia, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injuries and Huntington’s chorea. It also holds the potential to repair and regenerate human tissues, nerve cells, and skin cells. American medicine stands on the brink of being able to drastically improve the lives and futures of more than 128 million Americans who currently suffer from debilitating diseases and conditions.
Robust, Effective and Successful Embryonic Stem Cell Research Requires Additional Stem Cell Lines . On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced he would allow for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, but only on 60 existing germ lines (i.e., self-sustaining colonies of cells derived from destroyed embryos that scientists have already begun to study). Today, however, only 21-22 of the original 60 germ lines are viable for research, and this small number of germ lines makes impossible robust research that draws on a broad diversity of genetic material in order to benefit the genetic diversity of the American population.
This legislation ensures that Stem Cell Research is Conducted Ethically and Safely . The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would open up stem cell lines for federally-funded research ensuring that embryos used to derive stem cells were originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need; that the individuals seeking fertility treatments for whom the embryos were created have determined that the embryos will not be implanted and will otherwise be discarded; and that the individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation.
The Mandate for Stem Cell Research is Not About Reproductive Choice . Embryos utilized for research are not fertilized nor are they ever implanted in a woman for the purpose of reproduction. As Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has noted: “I believe it's the most pro-life position to be able to help the living, especially from fertilized eggs and in vitro fertilization clinics that are going to be discarded and would die anyway.”[1]
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Enjoys Support from a Broad Spectrum of Faith Communities . The Jewish tradition teaches us that preserving life and promoting health are among the most precious of values. Nachmanides, a Medieval Torah and Talmud scholar, taught that the practice of healing is not merely a profession, it is a mitzvah, a righteous obligation, andour tradition requires that we use all available knowledge to heal the ill, and "when one delays in doing so, it is as if he has shed blood" (Shulchan Aruch, Yorei De`ah 336:1). Additionally, embryonic stem cell research enjoys support from the Episcopal Church (USA), the Presbyterian Church, the United Church of Christ and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.
America Strongly Supports Stem Cell Research . An Opinion Research Corporation poll in March 2005 showed that Americans' support for embryonic stem cell research grew when they were given detailed information about the research. A February 2005 poll conducted by the Civil Society Institute showed that 70% of voters back bipartisan federal legislation to promote more embryonic stem cell research.
[1] Speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on October 14, 2002
Background
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other types of cells. First, they are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division. The second is that under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become cells with special functions such as the beating cells of the heart muscle or the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, which have different functions and characteristics that will be explained in this document. Scientists discovered ways to obtain or derive stem cells from early mouse embryos more than 20 years ago. Many years of detailed study of the biology of mouse stem cells led to the discovery, in 1998, of how to isolate stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in the laboratory. These are called human embryonic stem cells. The embryos used in these studies were created for infertility purposes through in vitro fertilization procedures and when they were no longer needed for that purpose, they were donated for research with the informed consent of the donor.
Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. In the 3- to 5-day-old embryo, called a blastocyst, stem cells in developing tissues give rise to the multiple specialized cell types that make up the heart, lung, skin, and other tissues. In some adult tissues, such as bone marrow, muscle, and brain, discrete populations of adult stem cells generate replacements for cells that are lost through normal wear and tear, injury, or disease.1
1Information from the National Institutes of Health “Stem Cell Resource Page.” For more information, visit http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/
What is Stem Cell Research?
Stem cell research involves cells that can potentially develop into any kind of cell, tissue, or organ in the body (“totipotent stem cells”) and that may one day soon be able to replace damaged or sick cells in a patient with an injury or degenerative disease. Totipotent stem cells are commonly obtained by using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology. This technique, commonly referred to as cloning, involves the removal of the nucleus of an unfertilized, mature egg and its replacement with a genetically complete nucleus obtained from another adult or fetal organism. Since almost all of the hereditary genetic material of a cell is contained within its nucleus, the entity into which this egg develops is genetically identical to the organism that was the source of the transferred nucleus.
What is the Difference Between “Therapeutic Cloning” and “Reproductive Cloning”
Therapeutic cloning uses SCNT technology to create cells that develop only until the pre-embryo stage, at which point the stem cells are removed. These stem cells are then used to research possible cures for serious medical diseases and conditions. In contrast, “reproductive cloning” attempts to use this technology to produce a living, breathing human being.
What Promises Does Stem Cell Research Hold for Medical Science?
Therapeutic stem cell research has already provided, and holds out tremendous promise to continue to provide, great progress for finding a cure or treatment for conditions including breast and prostate cancer, leukemia, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injuries and Huntington’s chorea. It also holds the potential to repair and regenerate human tissues, nerve cells, and skin cells. With the advent of therapeutic cloning through SCNT technology, American medicine stands on the brink of being able to drastically improve the lives and futures of more than 128 million Americans who currently suffer from debilitating diseases and conditions. Use of stem cells is the best way to advance this crucial research.
Legislative Summary
On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced he would allow for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, but only on 60 existing germ lines (i.e., self-sustaining colonies of cells derived from destroyed embryos that scientists have already begun to study). Today, only 22 of the original 60 germ lines are viable for research, and this small number of germ lines makes impossible robust research that draws on a broad diversity of genetic material in order to benefit the genetic diversity of the American population. The President stopped short of allowing federal funding for research using stem cells derived from frozen embryos that have not been studied (about 100,000 of which exist at fertility labs across the country). President Bush also created a new President's Council on Bioethics, to monitor the ramifications of these developments.
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 471)
On February 28, 2005, in a strong act of bi-partisan support for stem cell research, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 471) alongside its companion bill in the House, H.R. 810, introduced by Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). S.471/H.R.810 would open up stem cell lines for federally-funded research ensuring that embryos used to derive stem cells were originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need; that the individuals seeking fertility treatments for whom the embryos were created have determined that the embryos will not be implanted in a woman and will otherwise be discarded; and that the individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation. The House of Representatives’ leadership has said that they will hold a vote some time in the next few months on the issue of expanding the number of stem cell lines available for federally funded research.
On July 18th, 2006, the United States Senate passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810) in a vote of 63-37. On Tuesday, May 24, 2005 the House passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 810) in a strongly bipartisan vote of 238-194.
To take action on this issue please visit the Religious Action Center's Legislative Action Center.
For more information please visit Rep. Mike Castle’s “Stem Cell Research” Resource page at http://www.house.gov/castle/Castle%20DeGette%20ESCR.html
Jewish Values and Stem Cell Research
Jewish tradition teaches us that preserving life and promoting health are among the most precious of values. These values have informed our affirmative commitment to medical science throughout the ages. Judaism has always encouraged scientific and medical advances. As Nachmanides taught, the practice of healing is not merely a profession, it is a mitzvah, a righteous obligation. A recent CCAR responsum applies this principle to human stem cell research: "If we define the administration of lifesaving medical therapy as pikuach nefesh, we should not forget that physicians could not save lives were it not for the extensive scientific research upon which our contemporary practice of medicine is based. Since research into human stem cells partakes of the mitzvah of healing, surely our society ought to support it" (CCAR Responsum 5761.7, Human Stem Cell Research, Rabbi Mark Washofsky). Indeed, our tradition requires that we use all available knowledge to heal the ill, and "when one delays in doing so, it is as if he has shed blood" (Shulchan Aruch, Yorei De`ah 336:1).
Position of the Reform Jewish Movement
At its 2003 General Assembly, the Union for Reform Judaism adopted a resolution supporting embryonic and adult stem cell research as well as research using SCNT technology for therapeutic cloning; opposing efforts to restrict or penalize scientists, clinicians, or patients for participating in stem cell research and SCNT technology for therapeutic purposes, and supporting efforts by the scientific community to develop regulations and monitor those using SCNT technology. See the complete resolution here: http://urj.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=7152&pge_prg_id=30698&pge_id=1625
