X-Message-Number: 17238
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 23:14:57 -0400
From: James Swayze <>
Subject: One small step... Bushes uncharacteristic brave yet still meager 

"President Bush took a brave, although not heroic, step in stem cell
research" says Mary Ann

Liebert, publisher of Genetic Engineering News and Cloning & Stem Cells
Updated: Fri, Aug 10 12:37 AM EDT LARCHMONT, N.Y.  (BUSINESS WIRE) -
"President George W.  Bush showed an important understanding of the
potential benefits of stem cell research,"
said biomedical publisher, Mary Ann Liebert.  "Tonight he demonstrated a
willingness to support research that may be opposed by many of his
conservative constituents and some religious leaders.  The President is to
be commended for his efforts to address stem cell research in a scientific
and morally responsible way," Ms.  Liebert said.  "However, I agree with the
scientific community and much of the American public who are disappointed
that federal funding will not be allowed to support research on frozen
fertilized eggs that will be discarded -- just thrown away."

Mary Ann Liebert is president and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., which
publishes the 21 year old Genetic Engineering News (GEN), the first and most
widely read biotechnology publication in the world (www.genengnews.com).
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., also publishes the peer reviewed journal, Cloning &
Stem Cells, edited by Ian Wilmut, Ph.D.  (www.liebertpub.com/clo)

"While there is relief tonight that the President did not ban stem cell
research, it is clear that members of Congress have their work cut out for
them when they return to the Capitol to ensure that the potential benefit of
stem cell research can come to fruition to benefit people all over the
world," continued Mrs. Liebert.  "In establishing a council to continue to
address stem cell research, President Bush is validating its importance and
promise.

"President Bush should be applauded for his decision to permit limited
federal funding for research on existing stem cell lines" agrees John
Sterling, managing editor of Genetic Engineering News.  "However, this
should be considered only the first step.  These cell lines, which have been
estimated to total 69 or less, do not provide enough stem cells to conduct
the broad range of research required to develop possible cures for a host of
diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, diabetes, and spinal
cord injuries.  The President's decision to restrict funding to established
stem cell lines sets up a roadblock to the development of new and improved
cell lines that may offer even greater potential as therapies of the
future.  We hope that President Bush will eventually decide to expand the
scope of federal funding to include new sources of embryonic stem cells."

"The biomedical science community must continue to educate the public and
legislators about the potential benefits of stem cell research and, at the
same time, continue to understand and address with sensitivity ethical and
moral concerns of which the President spoke this evening," Ms.  Liebert
said.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is a privately held, fully integrated media company
that is universally acknowledged for establishing authoritative
peer-reviewed journals in cutting-edge and promising areas of science and
biomedical research, including Cloning & Stem Cells; Tissue Engineering;
Human Gene Therapy; and AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.  A complete
list of the firm's 60 journals, books, and newsletters is available at
www.liebertpub.com.
---

Well blow me down! Bush seems to have briefly acquired a small bit of slack
on his puppet strings. Let's hope he finds it comfortable and makes it more
than a brief interlude. It's a very small beginning but an important one.

James
--
From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of the journey
is not to arrive --RUSH

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