CHI Applauds Senate Stem Cell Vote; President's Promise to Veto Reinforces Importance of California Prop. 71.LA JOLLA, Calif. -- California Healthcare Institute (CHI) applauded today's bipartisan U.S. Senate vote on legislation to ease federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a blastocyst. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50-150 cells. ES cells are pluripotent. research. "Today's Senate vote illustrates the growing nationwide momentum for increasing federal support for embryonic stem cell research," said David L. Gollaher, Ph.D., CHI president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "Stem cell science is only a few years old, but research results are already offering promise and hope to thousands of patients and their families that cures or treatments for diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, and spinal cord injury Spinal Cord Injury Definition Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that causes loss of sensation and motor control. Description Approximately 10,000 new spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur each year in the United States. may be within reach. "While the President's promise to veto this critical legislation is disappointing, it also reaffirms the importance of Prop. 71 in maintaining California as a global leader in stem cell research. We're confident that the litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. around Prop. 71 will be resolved, and that California's new stem cell institute will begin major funding for this critical work." H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was the name of two similar bills that both passed through the United States House of Representatives and Senate, but were both vetoed by President George W. Bush and were not enacted into law. , which passed the Senate by a vote of 63-37, requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH "Not invented here." See digispeak. NIH - The United States National Institutes of Health. ) to develop standards concerning federally supported research on stem cells derived from embryos originally produced for fertility treatment purposes but in excess of clinical need. The measure further establishes ethical safeguards requiring written consent from, and prohibiting financial or other inducements to, the individuals who created the embryos. CHI represents more than 250 leading biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical companies, and public and private academic biomedical research organizations. CHI's mission is to advance responsible public policies that foster medical innovation and promote scientific discovery. CHI's Web site is www.chi.org. |
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