NIH chief: Stem cell ban hobbles science

[deadparrot]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Lifting the ban on taxpayer funding of research on new stem cells from fertilized embryos would better serve both science and the nation, the chief of the National Institutes of Health told lawmakers Monday.

Allowing the ban to remain in place, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni told a Senate panel, leaves his agency fighting "with one hand tied behind our back."

"It is clear today that American science will be better served — the nation will be better served — if we allow our scientists to have access to more cell lines," Zerhouni told two members of the Senate health appropriations subcommittee during a hearing on the NIH's proposed 2008 budget. The NIH, with a nearly $29 billion annual budget, is the main federal agency that conducts and funds medical research.

Zerhouni's comments appear to be his strongest yet in support of lifting President Bush's 2001 ban that restricted government funding to research using only embryonic stem cell lines then in existence. There are just 21 such lines now in use.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070319/ap_on_go_co/stem_cells

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Wow - he was even appointed by Bush

But then, he has http://www.nih.gov/about/director/directorbio.htm>proper qualifications for heading the NIH - doctor, professor, head of research, writer of papers, creator of patents, etc. Obviously something went wrong in the White House screening process, and a qualified candidate got through by mistake, rather than a Republican ideologue without relevant experience.

[sutz12]

2. And funny how he comes out now...

Now that he has some rational backing in Congress, instead of the fundie sucking Repubs.