Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research Praises Governor of New Jersey for New Stem Cell Institute; Trailblazing Initiative Offers New Hope to Patients 2/24/2004
From: Julie Kimbrough of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, 212-585-3501 or juliekimbrough@earthlink.net NEW YORK, Feb. 24 -- The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) applauds New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey for his landmark initiative to provide state funding for stem cell research in a newly created New Jersey Stem Cell Institute. In today's State of the Budget Address, the Governor proposed establishing an initial $10 million public- private Stem Cell Fund, which will include a state contribution of $6.5 million. The new Institute is expected to receive more than $50 million over the next five years. CAMR, comprised of over 80 nationally recognized patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, led the charge to support U.S. federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and has led the efforts opposing a U.S. ban on therapeutic cloning. "This bold new initiative will put New Jersey on the map as a leader in medical research," said Daniel Perry, President of CAMR. "New Jersey will surely see a rising tide of the nation's top scientists coming to its doors," he added. As indicated in the Governor's speech today, the New Jersey Stem Cell Institute, the first in the nation to utilize both state and private resources to fund stem cell research, will be a joint institute between the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers University. The Governor and the Commission on Science and Technology will convene a working group to pursue the Institute's development. The NJ legislature will vote on the proposed budget items in July. "A public-private partnership is the best way to guarantee accountability-it keeps 'public' in the public interest," noted Mr. Perry. "This type of partnership will ensure that the state government can provide oversight of the work and ensure that the research complies with ethical guidelines, both essential when pursuing cutting-edge science," he added. Scientists believe embryonic stem cells may hold vast potential in the fight against deadly diseases and conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, and many others. The cells, which can replicate themselves indefinitely, may some day be used to grow new tissue that will become the "missing link" needed to cure some of the world's most debilitating illnesses and conditions. Therapeutic cloning, also known as somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT, is fundamentally different from human reproductive cloning; therapeutic produces stem cells, not babies. In therapeutic cloning, the nucleus of a donor's unfertilized egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus of a patient's own cells, like a skin, heart, or nerve cell. No sperm is used in this procedure. The cells are not transplanted into a womb. The unfertilized egg cells are stored in a petri dish to become a source of stem cells that can be used to treat currently incurable medical conditions. SCNT aims to treat or cure patients by creating tailor-made, genetically identical cells that their bodies won't reject. In other words, SCNT could allow patients to be cured using their own DNA. ------ The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), is comprised of nationally-recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, foundations, and individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders, advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in regenerative medicine -- including stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer -- in order to cure disease and alleviate suffering. For more information on CAMR, visit the Web site: http://www.camradvocacy.org. | |