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 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17238