Obama Stem Cell Announcement Exciting for Local Researchers - Diabetes and Stem Cell Research in Nebraska

Obama Stem Cell Announcement Exciting for Local Researchers

March 10, 2009
Julie Hong
KPTM

OMAHA (KPTM) - President Barack Obama is fulfilling a campaign promise and stirring up controversy reversing the policies of his predecessor.

Mr. Obama signed an executive order allowing taxpayer dollars to be used in embryonic stem cell research.

President Obama says it's research that could cure some of the most devastating diseases and conditions like Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries.

The President's policy change is triggering much excitement and hope from metro scientists and researchers.

The move is also disappointing for anti-abortion advocates.

Rik Bonness says today is a big day.

One he says that could mean a brighter future for his family and countless others like his.

"It's huge it's everything."

Bonness's kids were diagnosed with type one diabetes and have lived with the disease for nearly 20 years.

Or for Monnie Lindsay, who continues to battle Parkinson's, she says it's a disease that's slowly taking her life.

Now the two hope to find better treatment or better yet a cure through the President's action to lift the limits on embryonic stem cell research.

"It's getting up in the middle of the night to check your four year olds blood sugar, it's believing that the next operation is worth it b/c there may be something tomorrow that's better," says Bonness.

In August of 2001 President George W. Bush limited tax payer dollars for embryonic stem cells already in existence.

Scientists say over the past eight years they spent more time trying to find private funding instead of actually doing their research.

It's a move the University of Nebraska Medical Center leaders applaud.

"It makes available embryonic stem cell lines for research that were produced under the same ethical criteria but at the same time were produced with non federal sources," says Dr. Dave Crouse, University of Nebraska Medical Center's Associate Vice Chancellor.

Of course the policy change doesn't come without controversy.

"Why go down the destruction and death of unborn children?" asks Nebraskans United for Life President, Ann Marie Bowen.

She says it's disappointing.

"We would like to see Obama to encourage adult stem cell research that is the research that is going in the right direction and the ethical way to go," says Bowen.

But for researchers like Doctor Stephen Rennard who's been using stem cells for a number of years to find a way to restore the use of damaged lungs, he says access and funding for stem cell research holds great potential.

"Without a doubt this will facilitate this area of promising research which going forward in the future hopes to offer help with diseases that really we've not been able to address with other lines of investigation."

UNMC leaders say it will still be weeks if not months before all the policy changes are in place as the National Institute of Health will be putting out new guidelines and restrictions.

Monday's executive order still banns using federal tax dollars for the creation of embryos for stem cell research.

All content © Copyright 2000 - 2009 WorldNow and KPTM. All Rights Reserved.