Darn I missed Obama's comments...had it on but was distracted. Did he say anything about lifting the ban? Anything else about related issues? I'll have to catch it the next time they air it tonight.

I was primed and ready to watch, but got distracted as usual.

thanks for anyone who can answer this,
paula

Paula, I listened to the entire address and there was no specific mention of
ESCR or SCNT research, only that part of the stimulus plan involved further strengthening research in science.
Incidentally, I fired off an email to Obama last night urging him to rescind Bush's executive order restricting ESCR.

He only mentioned cancer; said he wanted to push for a cure. Hope he wants to pursue other cures as well

I emailed President Obama again just now and asked him to keep his promise

Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

I called & left a voice comment as well - said 2 million pwp were waiting for him to fulfill his promise to lift the retsrictions on stem cell research.

Regarding SCNT, according to wikipedia, it is legal only in the UK, but it [the study] must be approved there. I don't know if it's on the table with Obama; can't help but think it would make some noise if it was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic...clear_transfer

paula

An article in Nature News (online Feb 24, 2009) raises the possibility of legal challenges to an Obama executive order and the need for accompanying legislation. see:

Stem-cell inaction prompts concern
Legal complexities may underlie the delay in fulfilling election pledge.

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/0902.../4571068a.html

excerpt:
"Some Washington insiders suggest that there is no more to the delay than a president consumed by a major economic crisis. Others note that the new administration had (at the time Nature went to press) yet to install a National Institutes of Health (NIH) director or secretary of health and human services — key people the president will need to rely on to enact an executive order and serve as the public face of the administration on a controversial issue.

Yet others contend that Obama's lack of action five weeks into his presidency highlights the complexity of the legal issues involved in reversing the Bush ban, which limited federal funding for stem-cell research to a score of lines derived before 9 August 2001.

Louis Guenin, a lecturer on ethics at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, believes that an Obama executive order could be successfully challenged in court in the absence of enacted legislation explicitly approving federal funding for stem-cell research. That, he says, is because of the Dickey–Wicker amendment: a law first enacted by Congress in 1995 and renewed each year since, which prohibits US funding of research in which embryos are created or destroyed. "

The article states some of the top stem cell researchers such as George Daley and John Gearhart are now looking into the legal issues.

Thanks Linda, this is almost always omitted from stem cell conversations and it's so relevant. we tend to forget about it but it's law..

Personally, I waver on stem cells for so many reasons....not the least of which is this amendment. It pops up like a stop sign when you just get going. I think I remember talking about how Bush got around it way back, but don't quote me on that.

Here's a link to a book on the debate, which I don't want to start, but the link will hopefully take you straight to the bookmark on this amendment.

http://books.google.com/books?id=O_r...um=1&ct=result

Many years ago, I made the decision to just know the facts and pass them on. This is too personal to argue about and the argument isn't going to change. But the science does.

I'd like to have a plan B. These cells still look like a long shot or a long way off. If we could prioritize what we need from Obama to get this research moving in the U.S. -or as Bill Bell asks, "if you had $150 million -i'm changing it to billion to keep up with the times - from philanthropists, what would you do with it?

I guess, religion and politics aside, i would just rather heal myself. Whatever they learn from ESCR - hopefully - will be able to be applied using our own cells.

Looked up Gearhart and Daley -researchers looking into the law mentioned by Linda H..... smart guys! Totally cellular lol.

ok - we've got $150 billion to spend. Where do we start? Universal DNA testing? EHRs in a year for everyone? Even with all this money, it will take years to see results if we rely on the government. NIH, FDA, slow - so slow.

What can we do now? Pd pipeline project is opening up its database to the public without registration. it's just there to use, a gift from Sheryl J 's husband. It's been there awhile, but required a registration. i strongly recommend that you take a look. The info is all there for all pd pipeline research we know of....trials, preclinical info, human trials., sponsors....it's Phase II and a no go - too frequently.Let us know if you know of anything else or have an update. This is ongoing. Hope you can use it.

http://apexutf.shellprompt.net/pls/a...1223968231::NO


I know it's hard to prioritize when so much is being learned each day. I'm not trying to manipulate anyone into playing a game or anything like that. Bill asked me that question and it is a good one. the list below comes from talking to people - not all my ideas. They don't have to be in order of priority, just your top ones. Forgive my ignorance..but keep an open mind....never say never, be positive, etc. We have 150 billion remember.

• restructure PD research into a national frame of reference thru orgs and private foundations - govt too slow - move quickly and collaborate like cystic fibrosis group. Hire independently to accomplish this. Find a target. Make our own meds.
• give GDNF thru pump infusion another chance for people now.
• new paradigm for clinical trials that includes patients in the design and attempt to resolve placebo problems including sham surgeries
• take stem cell research in the direction that it leads - it's either going to show results or it isn't, avoid duplication and consider all the evidence for all types of stem cells. Know when to quit.
• Spend money on the patient, not the employees. i need to start a new thread i'm too off topic. But when i see articles telling me to exercise vigorously, I wish i had the treadmill that the monkeys have. i wish i had a pd place to exercise and transportation to the pd class. Less money spent on conferences, more on patient quality of life. Too many unmet needs to be traveling to conferences all the time. Can they be replaced with online meetings and web cams? This is not a criticism - everyone needs face to face conferences, but there is a tidal wave of patients coming. New paradigms.

Long way from Dickey Wicker. if someone thinks i should start a new thread i'll move this.

paula

I know it's hard to prioritize when so much is being learned each day. I'm not trying to manipulate anyone into playing a game or anything like that. Bill asked me that question and it is a good one. the list below comes from talking to people - not all my ideas. They don't have to be in order of priority, just your top ones. Forgive my ignorance..but keep an open mind....never say never, be positive, etc. We have 150 billion remember.

• restructure PD research into a national frame of reference thru orgs and private foundations - govt too slow - move quickly and collaborate like cystic fibrosis group. Hire independently to accomplish this. Find a target. Make our own meds.
• give GDNF thru pump infusion another chance for people now.
• new paradigm for clinical trials that includes patients in the design and attempt to resolve placebo problems including sham surgeries
• take stem cell research in the direction that it leads - it's either going to show results or it isn't, avoid duplication and consider all the evidence for all types of stem cells. Know when to quit.
• Spend money on the patient, not the employees. i need to start a new thread i'm too off topic. But when i see articles telling me to exercise vigorously, I wish i had the treadmill that the monkeys have. i wish i had a pd place to exercise and transportation to the pd class. Less money spent on conferences, more on patient quality of life. Too many unmet needs to be traveling to conferences all the time. Can they be replaced with online meetings and web cams? This is not a criticism - everyone needs face to face conferences, but there is a tidal wave of patients coming. New paradigms.

Long way from Dickey Wicker. if someone thinks i should start a new thread i'll move this.

paula

Paula: Your six shooter fired five good bullets. Lets call for the sixth one to be the silver one. Bob C

Way too cool, Bandido. great analogy and it might make me perceived as younger ......lol


z z z

paula