Much Ado about the Veto

The big news today was about President Bush vetoing the bill that would have expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. This was of interest to me since I work in the field of biological research, and also because I happen to be at an institute that is the leader in stem cell research, UW-Madison. Dr. James Thomson, director of WiCell was the first in the world to isolate stem cells in 1998 and lay the foundation for further research in this area that aims to find cures for diseases like Diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Stem cells retain the ability to shape themselves into different organs depending on the stimuli given, and may be able to replace the dead brain cells, the destroyed pancreas or the failed kidney. The WiCell Research Institute at Madison was selected late last year by the National Institutes of Health to establish the federal government’s first National Stem Cell Bank that includes a support of $16 million over the next 4 years.

The stem cell research that is opposed by Bush and his right-conservative faction is that involving embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cell research is not part of the cut-down and although it lacks the plasticity of embryonic cells, there have been successful applications. Embryonic stem cells are derived from human eggs that are fertilized in-vitro, and not the eggs fertilized inside a woman's body. These eggs are donated by women voluntarily, and these are eggs that would have gone to waste anyways. Bush equates cells of the fertilized embryo to living human cells, and to what extent that is true is a matter of your belief and opinion as to when life actually starts. It is an extension to the abortion row that continues to divide the citizens and voters of this country.

US scientists are wary of losing opportunities of stem cell discovery to Asian countries like China, Japan and South Korea which have more permissive policies for such research. However, by far, US funds more stem cell research and has more stem cell lines than all other countries put together. For instance, total US funding is in excess of 200 million as compared to South Korea that comes a distant second with $60 million. Moreover, I read that whereas the NIH funds only around $24 million, private agencies fund more than $200 million. The veto does not affect this private funding a wee bit.

Critics of embryonic stem cell research say that not much has come off from the past years of research. There have been reports of disastrous consequences of stem cell transplants where cells grew into a brain tumor that killed the patient. Proponents might tell you a heart-wrenching story of a loved one that succumbed to a disease that lacked a cure. Undoubtedly, developing cures for these diseases need decades of labor-intensive research, and stem cell research is yet only in its infancy. A lot is expected of it and a lot is foreseen. Statistics can tell you about the burden of those diseases on federal spending through Medicaid and Medicare. By aiming to find cures, not only are we progressing in science and technology but also saving millions of dollars of future expenditure on rehab and palliative care. I doubt there is one straight-forward answer to it all, but debate and discussion can help people understand the other's point of view.

Let me end with a funny line by Conan O'Brien on the Late Night Show tonight. You needn't be an expert on American politics to figure out 'Who would be the biggest enemy of Bush? Two gay (illegal) immigrants doing stem cell research!'