2008-11-13

President-Elect Barack Obama has indicated that one of the first acts of his new administration will be to issue an executive order to reverse President Bush’s policy limiting federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. During the presidential campaign, ASH had encouraged both candidates to support expanding stem cell research. President-Elect Obama has repeatedly indicated his support for expanding stem cell research and has co-sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

Current Bush Administration policy allows for federal funds to be used only for research on embryonic stem cell lines derived prior to August 9, 2001, the date on which President Bush announced a policy to permit limited funding of embryonic stem cell research. At the time, several scientists advised President Bush that there were about 60 viable cell lines in existence and they would be sufficient for investigators to advance the embryonic stem cell field. However, there are only 21 embryonic stem cell lines that are currently available to researchers, and they have been found to be contaminated with mouse cells or mouse cell products.

ASH's policy in support of all avenues of stem cell research is available online.