Coalition Formed to Protect Stem Cell Research and Cures in Kansas

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Coalition Formed to Protect Stem Cell Research and Cures in Kansas
9 December 2005
PRNewswire

LAWRENCE, Kan., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- A coalition of patient advocacy groups, medical experts and concerned citizens today launched an effort to ensure that Kansas patients will have access to any future stem cell cures that are allowed by federal law and available to other Americans. The group, called the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, includes dozens of medical and patient organizations and hundreds of concerned citizens throughout the state.

Notable organizational members include the American Diabetes Association, Christopher Reeve Foundation, Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (which represents more than 90 patient advocacy, disease and research organizations), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Parkinson's Action Network and Stowers Institute for Medical Research. A list of organization and individual members is posted on the Coalition's website at http://www.kansascures.com/ .

The new coalition formed in response to attempts some Kansas politicians have made to pass state legislation that would ban and criminalize certain types of stem cell research and cures in Kansas. That legislation would ban stem cell research involving Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) at Kansas medical institutions and prohibit Kansas patients from having their diseases and injuries treated with any future SCNT stem cell cures that are approved as a medical treatment in the United States.

SCNT provides a way to use a patient's own cell and a donated, unfertilized egg to produce stem cells, which can turn into any type of cell in the human body and match the patient's genetic makeup, thus avoiding the problem of immune system rejection. Medical researchers believe that SCNT stem cells could provide cures for many currently incurable or common diseases, such as diabetes, Parkinson's, MS, cancer, heart disease, ALS, sickle cell disease and spinal cord injury.

"Members of our Coalition agree that any stem cell research and cures that are allowed by federal law should be allowed in Kansas, as long such activities are conducted ethically and safely and do not involve human reproductive cloning or any attempt to clone a human being," said Lori Hutfles, Executive Director of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. "We will strongly oppose state-level bans on any type of stem cell research and cures allowed under federal law.

"Kansas patients deserve the right to have access to any stem cell therapies and cures that are allowed in the U.S. and available to patients in other states, and Kansas medical institutions should be able to provide and help find those cures."

More than 50 years of research on adult stem cells has produced such treatments as bone marrow transplants for leukemia patients. Now, the new frontier in stem cell research involves early, or embryonic, stem cells (ES cells). Unlike adult stem cells, ES cells have the potential to turn into and regenerate any type of cell or tissue in the human body. As a result, ES cells could provide cures for more than 70 devastating diseases and injuries that afflict hundreds of thousands of children and adults in Kansas and millions of other Americans. There are two basic sources of ES cells. One is SCNT. The other is leftover fertility clinic embryos that would otherwise be discarded.

"Stem cell research holds the potential for treating some of our most devastating diseases including juvenile (type 1) diabetes," said Peter Van Etten, President and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "A few politicians should not stand in the way of lifesaving stem cell research and cures for Kansans that are developed in the future and are available in other states."

"We are members of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures because we believe patients should have access to future therapies and cures that improve and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Kansas -- and provide a model that may be needed in any other states where politicians try to impose state-level bans on stem cell treatments that are permitted under federal law," said Michael Manganiello, Senior Vice President for Government Relations at the Christopher Reeve Foundation.

"The Alliance for Aging Research is proud to be a member of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures because we believe Kansas medical researchers and institutions must be allowed to pursue early stem cell research," said Executive Director Dan Perry. "This important research could lead to the development of treatments or cures for numerous age-related diseases and disabilities. We must ensure aging Kansans have access to quality medical treatments in the years to come."

"Our organization represents more than 90 national patient advocacy, disease and research organizations," said Sean Tipton, Vice President of Communications for the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research. "We support the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures because we believe stem cell research and cures should remain available for Kansas patients. Most scientists believe and studies show that embryonic stem cells will likely be more effective in curing diseases because they can grow and differentiate into any of the body's cells and tissues and thus organs. It is important that we work together to ensure Kansas patients have access to any stem cell treatments and cures allowed by federal law and available to other Americans."

"Stem cell research holds great promise for the nearly 21 million Americans who have diabetes," said Bruce Barrett, State Advocacy Leader of the American Diabetes Association. "Stem cell research could lead not only to a cure for diabetes, but to better treatment as well. The American Diabetes Association is a proud member of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, and we will continue to oppose any measure that will stand in the way of progress of potentially lifesaving research."

"The Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is dedicated to supporting lifesaving stem cell research that could save millions of patients from some of the worst diseases and injuries including Parkinson's Disease," said Amy Comstock, Executive Director of the Parkinson's Action Network. "We believe in the promise of stem cell research, and agree that any cures that result from this important research should be available for Kansas patients."

"We are in agreement with the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures that any stem cell research, therapies or cures that are permitted by federal law should be allowed in Kansas," said George Dahlman, Vice President of Public Policy at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "Stem cell research could provide cures for many of the most devastating diseases including cancers like leukemia and lymphoma."

"We are honored to have these and dozens of other leading medical and patient groups join with Kansas citizens as members of our Coalition," said Hutfles. "We encourage concerned Kansas residents and organizations to join with us in supporting lifesaving stem cell research and cures. Supporters can join online and get more information by visiting our website at http://www.kansascures.com/ or calling us toll-free at 800-821-2658."

CONTACT: Laurie Roberts 816-931-8900 (office) 913-220-7488 (cell)

Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

CONTACT: Laurie Roberts for Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures,office, +1-816-..., cell, +1-913-220-7488

Web site: http://www.kansascures.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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