ESCR Supporters

 

Package of bills requests embryo research transparency

In Michigan, the passage of Proposal 2 by a narrow margin in 2008 left many questions regarding human embryonic stem cell research in its wake. To answer those questions, lawmakers introduced a bi-partisan package of bills in both the Michigan House and Senate. The Embryo Research and Fertility Clinic Transparency Act was reported out of the Michigan Senate Health Policy Committee on January 20, and more action is expected in the coming weeks.

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Adult stem cells cure patients with sickle cell disease

National Institutes of Health researchers report that they cured 9 out of 10 adult patients with sickle cell disease using bone marrow stem cells from their siblings.

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Majority of California grants go to non-embryonic work

In another sign that embryonic stem cell research is unlikely to ever result in successful treatments for human patients and is years behind adult stem cell research, the New York Times reports that only 4 of the 14 projects recently approved for $230 million in funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) plan on using embryonic stem cells. CIRM was originally created to fund embryonic stem cell research. 

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iPS cells shown to function the same as embryonic stem cells

Chinese scientists have created live mice by injecting iPS cells into mouse embryos. Researchers say the test proves that iPS cells can function exactly like embryonic stem cells. "This clearly says for the first time that iPS cells pass the most stringent test," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a stem cell researcher at Harvard University.

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NIH releases final guidelines on human embryonic stem cell research

On July 6, 2009, the National Institutes of Health posted the final "National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research." These guidelines allow federal tax dollars to support research on human embryonic stem cell lines obtained from human embryos at in-vitro fertilization clinics.

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Real Life: Saved By Her Brother

Cousins, siblings, aunts and uncles are all blood relatives. Usually this is a metaphor about the strong bonds holding families together. For six-year-old Colleen, however, this is a fact that might have been the difference between life and death.
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Embryo Adoption

EMBRYO OR TODDLER . . . FRANK IS STILL FRANK!
(Roll over image to see Frank as a Toddler)

Frank was adopted when he was just 4 cells old. Many seem to forget or ignore that embryo, toddler, adolescent and adult are merely words to describe levels of human development.

Destroying human life for research, even at its earliest stages of development, is a dangerous prospect. Saying these members of our society who have been frozen will be discarded anyway is inaccurate. Many are saved for future family building by their parents and others, like Frank, have been adopted by families who cannot conceive children on their own.
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Critical Reading

A critical read through of "Michigan Senate aims to ignore people on stem-cell research" by Jack Lessenberry, published in the Toledo Blade on October 30, 2009.

A critical read through of "Stem cell opponents defying voters' will" by Ryan Dinkgrave, published in the State News on October 19, 2009.

A critical read through of "Stem-cell therapy gives hope to accident victims" by Mark Henderson, published on January 23, 2009, in the UK Times Online. 

A critical read through of "Myths and Truth About Stem Cell Research," as published on the curemichigan.com website.

A critical read through of "Cures, jobs, ethics on the line in vote on stem cell research Opposing sides dig in as vote nears on Proposal 2," BY Megha Satyanarayana, published in the September 24, 2008 Detroit Free Press.

A critical read through of "Op-Ed: Stem cells likely biggest issue in Nov." by Jack Lessenberry published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle on July 13, 2008.

A critical read through of "Stem cell advocate speaks out" by Beth Jones published on the WLUC-TV 6 website on June 18, 2008.

A critical read through of "Dr. Mel Lester: Embryonic Stem Cell Research Offers Hope" published in the June 1, 2008 Lansing State Journal.

A critical read through of text on the front page of the curemichigan.com website.

A critical read through of "Future of stem-cell research discussed" by Chad Livengood that appeared in the Feb. 21, 2008 Jackson Citizen Patriot.

A critical read through of the Op-Ed written by State Senator Gretchen Whitmer that appeared in the Lansing State Journal on Jan. 20, 2008.

A critical read through of "Op-Ed: Embryonic stem-cell ban shows state isn't serious" by Jack Lessenberry published in the Traverse City Record Eagle on Dec. 23, 2007.

A critical read through of "Stem cell discovery might help state life-sci industry" published in the Ann Arbor Business Review on Dec. 6, 2007.

A critical read through of "More travel overseas for stem cell therapy" published in the Detroit News on November 29, 2007.

Michigan's laws which prohibit the killing of human embryos for research and human cloning have often been mislabeled as a "ban on stem cell research."  Read the legislation for yourself.