It's Time to Lift Michigan's Ban on Stem Cell Research

by: sengilda

Fri Aug 31, 2007 at 21:41:01 PM EDT

Unfortunately, the restrictions in Michigan are even more severe, since, not only is public funding unavailable for embryonic stem cell research, but the research is forbidden. The potential for life-saving treatments-and the economic development possibilities associated with the research to find these cures-has been taken away from Michigan citizens.

My colleagues Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale) have introduced legislation that would lift the ban on embryonic stem cell research in Michigan. I co-sponsored similar legislation last session, and I am a member of the Senate Health Policy committee where these bills await action. Michigan citizens should not have to wait any longer.

A recent Seattle Times article reiterates what scientists have been saying all along: embryonic stem cells have more potential than adult stem cells alone. Scientists at the University of Washington and their partners at a private biotech company have regrown heart muscles in rats using embryonic stem cells. This is exactly the type of research and discovery that Michigan has the resources and potential to conduct.

Meanwhile, here's what industrialist and philanthropist Alfred Taubman argued in a recent
Detroit News opinion piece:

"I'm funding promising research at the University of Michigan to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Some of the highest incidence rates in the world of this devastating disease are found right here in Michigan. But much of the work directed by the U-M research team has to be done in California, where there is access to new lines of embryonic stem cells from fertility clinic patients who have voluntarily donated their left-over embryos rather than have them discarded as medical waste.

Under current state law, if this critical work were done in a U-M laboratory, the scientists could be sent to prison for up to 10 years and be fined up to $10 million…

So let's have the discussion -- from Grand Rapids to Detroit -- and see if we can't craft the most ethical and effective stem cell research regulations in the nation. If our legislators lack the political will to tackle this in Lansing, let's put the question to the voters in November 2008.

Michigan is in a global race just like the one Ford and Sloan, as well as Upjohn, Dow, Parke and Davis, helped Michigan win 100 years ago. And the rewards -- in both economic and human terms -- are far, far greater."

We know that the citizens of Michigan support embryonic stem cell research three to one. We should be doing everything in our power to encourage this life-saving research, for both ethical and economic reasons.

It's time to move our state forward and lift the ban on embryonic stem cell research.  Contact your legislator and tell them how important this is to our state and our citizens.

To learn how you can support stem cell research here in Michigan, visit the Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research & Cures website.