New Poll Shows More Than Two Thirds of Americans Support Therapeutic Cloning Research to Produce Stem Cells

3/19/2003

From: Julie Kimbrough of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, 212-585-3501

WASHINGTON, March 19 -- A poll commissioned by the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) shows more than two thirds of Americans support therapeutic cloning research to produce stem cells for treating life-threatening diseases and conditions, and want the government to allow it to proceed. In the new poll, conducted on March 6, 2003, 67 percent of those surveyed said they favored Congress allowing therapeutic cloning research to continue, while only 30 percent polled want to outlaw the research. The poll surveyed 1,012 adult Americans and was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International.

"Once again, the American public has spoken and supports research using therapeutic cloning to continue," said Michael Manganiello, President of CAMR. "Legislation put forth by Senator Hatch and his colleagues much more accurately reflects what the public wants, as opposed to the alternative proposed by Senator Brownback," he added. CAMR, comprised of the nation's leading patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, led the charge to support federal funding of stem cell research and has led the efforts opposing a ban on therapeutic cloning.

Of the 1,012 people responding, the specific breakdown of responses was as follows: 55 percent said Congress should ban reproductive cloning but allow therapeutic cloning to continue, 30 percent support a ban on reproductive and therapeutic cloning, 12 percent do not support a ban on either form of cloning, and 3 percent responded 'don't know'. The percentages of men and women favoring therapeutic cloning research were the same, 67 percent. And Americans who had at least a college degree were more likely to support the research than those with a high school degree (75 percent to 63 percent). The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

"CAMR conducted a similar poll in April 2002 and the results were nearly identical, proving that despite all the anguish over recent attempts to clone a human being, the American public is still able to draw a line between reproductive cloning, which should be outlawed, and therapeutic cloning which can save lives. Clearly Congress should follow their lead," added Manganiello.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (more commonly called therapeutic cloning) is about saving and improving lives. It is fundamentally different from human reproductive cloning; it produces stem cells, not babies. In somatic cell nuclear transfer, 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. These types of cells are called somatic cells. The goal is to develop stem cells that will not be rejected or destroyed by the patient's immune system. 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 life-threatening medical conditions. Somatic cell nuclear transfer aims to treat or cure patients by creating tailor-made, genetically identical cells that their bodies won't reject. In other words, somatic cell nuclear transfer could allow patients with diseases and conditions like cancer, diabetes, ALS, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries and many more 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 website: www.camradvocacy.org.