Support stem cell research.

Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Gordon Smith For The Register-Guard

For each of us, the question of embryonic stem cell research brings into focus issues of ethics, religious beliefs and life's experiences. Like others, I have wrestled with these concerns in arriving at my position favoring embryonic stem cell research.

I have watched my grandmother, Lela Lee Udall, die of Parkinson's. I watched my uncle, Addison Udall, die of Parkinson's. I watched my cousin, former Democratic presidential candidate and Arizona Rep. Morris Udall, die of Parkinson's.

Watching people die of such a malady instills in my heart a desire to find the cure, if a cure can be found. I believe our best hope for this is embodied in the advancement of embryonic stem cell research.

After a 63-34 vote Wednesday in the Senate on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, we are one step closer to allowing this research to achieve its full potential - a potential that includes treatment and cures not only for the millions of Americans living with Parkinson's, but also Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's and myriad other disabling diseases.

This legislation is similar to the bill that tragically was vetoed by President Bush last year. If this legislation meets a similar fate, as the White House has suggested, the hopes of those in need of a cure will be postponed again for another two years.

While I respect the president's difference of opinion on this matter, I believe the federal government has a moral and vital role to play in improving the health and well-being of its citizenry. Stem cell research, in its various paths, has the greatest promise to bring us closer to that goal.

Current policy is shackling the minds of our scientists, preventing them from uncovering the full potential of this research. Without this legislation, the use of embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federally funded research is limited to the 78 lines approved for use in August of 2001. Since that time, it is apparent that these lines have been degraded and are less than ideal for human research. In fact, only 22 of the 78 approved embryonic stem cell lines are still viable.

What's more, scientists have serious concerns about the quality, longevity and availability of the existing lines because they were grown in culture dishes coated with mouse cells, which have contaminated them. At the time this method was created, the mouse cells were necessary to nourish the stem cells and foster growth.

Scientists are now able to successfully maintain stem cell lines without using animal cells. In order to allow researchers the opportunity to fully explore the possibilities and promise of embryonic stem cells, we must ensure they have expanded access to uncontaminated stem cell lines.

The United States has a long and strong tradition of leading the way in medical research and technology with the support of the federal government. Federal dollars, in fact, pay for many of the research facilities and materials used in leading medical labs throughout the United States, such as those at the University of Oregon, Oregon Health and Science University and Oregon State University.

Unfortunately, current policy constrains our scientists' ability to use these facilities or materials for embryonic stem cell research.

Oregon universities and research facilities host some of medicine's greatest minds. With their research, our state has the potential to solve the most perplexing medical mysteries of today. Yet without the use of embryonic stem cells, we are asking them to operate with one hand tied behind their back.

I believe an ethic of life includes caring as well for the living. An estimated 400,000 unused embryos currently are stored in fertilization clinics across the United States. These embryos were created as part of the in vitro fertilization process and were intended to provide couples the gift of life. Those embryos that go unused in fertility treatments should still have the opportunity to give the gift of life - but to those living with debilitating illnesses.

It is no more moral to simply throw them away. But without changing the law, these cells are destined for destruction. Instead of discarding unused embryos, we have the opportunity to allow them to be used to derive much-needed stem cell lines for medical research. I believe it would be a tremendous loss to science and to all humanity if we chose otherwise.

On this issue, I choose to err on the side of hope, healing and health. I encourage President Bush to do the same.

Gordon Smith, a Republican, is Oregon's junior senator.