Washington, D.C.– With President Obama’s newly established policy concerning embryonic stem cell research, scientists will now have the chance to explore the use of stem cells derived from excess fertility clinic embryos, with the aid of federal funding, according to a document issued by the president on March 9, 2009. In the document titled “Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells”, the policy established by President Bush, placed great limitations on the progress of such research, due to the lack of federal funds.

A reported 13 new stem cell lines are the first additions to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Human Stem Cell Registry and 96 more lines allegedly have been sent in by researchers. The new developments in medical advancement seem to be on their way, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

With this executive order opening so many doors in the science and medical fields, individuals affected by physical disorders or illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may have a greater likelihood of receiving beneficial treatment through the use of embryonic stem cells. For instance, when mesenchymal stem cells (found in bone marrow) were transplanted into the brain of a car crash victim who suffered a traumatic brain injury, the outcome was shocking. This surgery took place in Bangladore, India, the second place in the world to use mesenchymal stem cells in correlation with TBI’s. The motor vehicle collision (MVC) victim that underwent this procedure was in a coma for three months, and lacked any ability to move her limbs prior to the stem cell therapy. Approximately a month later, the patient was fully conscious and could reportedly move her limbs and carry out conversations.

Federal funding in stem cell research, acquired scientific research and experimentation in this field has a great potential to create medical advancements that could help millions of individuals throughout the nation.

Source: www.justicenewsflash.com/

Earlier this year, President Obama lifted restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research with many scientists hailing the decision as a fantastic boost for stem cell research, one of the most promising fields of research in medicine.

Since that signing, there have been several that have concluded that the plan could have the opposite effect, putting off-limits for federal support much of the research underway, including work that the Bush administration endorsed. “We’re very concerned,” said Amy Comstock Rick, chief executive of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, “If they don’t change this, very little current research would be eligible. It’s a huge issue.”

The main concern is the focus on strict new ethics criteria that the National Institutes of Health has proposed. Current advocates of stem cell research say that the majority of the research being done in the field at this time has passed close scrutiny but that the procedures varied and usually did not match the details specified in these newly proposed guidelines.

“It’s not that past practices were shoddy,” said Lawrence S. Goldstein, director of the stem cell program at the University of California at San Diego. “But they don’t necessarily meet every letter of the new guidelines moving forward. We’d have to throw everything out and start all over again.”

During his graduation speech to the class of 2009 at the University of Notre Dame, President Barack Obama emphasized the use of embryonic stem cell research for juvenile diabetes. During part of President Obama’s commencement speech focusing on the political and cultural disagreements Notre Dame students will encounter as they go into life, Barack Obama approached the controversial topic of stem cell research.

“Those who speak out against stem cell research may be rooted in admirable conviction about the sacredness of life, but so are the parents of a child with juvenile diabetes who are convinced that their son’s or daughter’s hardships can be relieved,” he said.

Obama’s speech was met with applause at Notre Dame, although a number of protesters awaited outside the building, protesting the use of embryonic stem cells.