Illinois Federation

For Right to Life

Daily News

Friday, September 26, 2008

Experts Lean toward Ethical Stem-Cell Research

 

Drug makers and doctors alike are lauding ethical adult-cell research. 

 

John McNeish, an executive director at the world’s largest drug maker, Pfizer, called it a "tremendous" discovery that researchers have learned how to coax adult cells into behaving like embryonic stem cells.

 

"They will help us understand personalized medicine, genetic variation, ethnic populations, what biomarkers to follow," he told Reuters.

 

McNeish heads Pfizer's new regenerative medicine unit, which aims to combine the company's strengths in making pills with therapies that take advantage of the unique properties of stem cells.

 

Wisconsin’s Dr. James Thomson, known for being the first scientist to isolate stem cells, admitted that destructive embryonic research may not be necessary.

 

Dawn Vargo, bioethics analyst at Focus on the Family Action, said: “It's heartening to see scientists and biotechnology companies recognize the new, ethical research with reprogrammed adult cells. Unfortunately, they have not taken a moral stand against destructive embryonic stem-cell research.”     

  

Contact: Danielle Hohncke

Source: CitizenLink

Source URL: http://www.citizenlink.org

Publish Date: September 25, 2008

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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection for the disabled and the elderly.   Click here to learn more about the IFRL.