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Children's Neurobiological Solutions Foundation Position Statement on Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer And Stem Cell Research
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On behalf of the millions of children with developmental disabilities and on behalf of their families and caregivers, CNS Foundation exhorts the Federal Government to heed the recommendations concerning Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) research published by the expert panel of the National Academy of Sciences. Any action on our government’s part to ban SCNT-based research in the absence of the needed scientific studies prematurely inhibits the ability of the scientific community to aggressively pursue any and all avenues of promising research. Limiting science’s ability to fulfill the hopes of these children may limit their lives, their dignity, their very freedom, and betrays the fundamental principles of progress and exploration on which this great nation was founded.
CNS Foundation supports the widely held scientific and ethical view that creating a living human being through reproductive cloning is distinct from carrying out studies with cells in culture in an effort to achieve new medical therapies. The Board of Directors of the CNS Foundation does not support efforts to clone human beings which - in contrast to cellular, tissue and organ cloning pose significant safety, medical, ethical, legal and social risks, far outweighing any current potential benefits. CNS believes there is a scientifically and morally valid distinction between the reproductive cloning and SCNT-based research, or therapeutic cloning, and encourages continued support for such research.
On March 5th, 2002, Paul Berg, Nobel Laureate, testified before The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee explaining this important work. He said, "Cloning is a scientific term to describe the preparation of an "infinite" number of copies of, for example, a single molecule, cell, virus or bacterium. For example, cloning DNA molecules was essential for solving the human genome sequence. Similarly, cloning DNA is critical to fight against bioterrorism and has already been used in the determination of the entire genome sequences of several organisms identified as bioweapons. Furthermore, cloning is integral to modern forensic procedures, medical diagnostics, vaccine development, and the discovery and production of many of the most promising drugs. Cloning is also used to make genetically identical plants and livestock enabling continued agricultural breakthroughs necessary to feed a rapidly growing and undernourished world population. I regret greatly that the frightening thoughts conjured up by the term alone have clouded the issues that confront us. . . .The particular value of nuclear transplantation technology [SCNT] is that the embryonic stem cells and the differentiated cells and tissues they yield have the same genetic makeup as the individual that donated the nucleus. Consequently, they can be used to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissues without invoking immune rejection that would occur with unmatched cells. In a sense, a person's own DNA is used to create compatible cells for the treatment of, for example, that individual's cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injury or Parkinson's disease.”
CNS represents millions of children whose lives are only beginning, yet fraught with difficulties due to neurological damage and disease. Never in the history of medicine has there been such an opportunity to improve the lives of special needs children, giving them the quality of health that so many of us may take for granted. It is the foundation’s belief that the potential benefits of both stem cell research and SCNT based therapies will produce viable and effective treatments, which will not only immeasurably enhance these children’s lives, but will in addition; relieve the emotional, psychological and financial burdens of their parents, caregivers and society. Not giving these special children and their loved ones this opportunity may critically and inexcusably limit their quality of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
For further information:
http://www.stemcellfunding.org/fastaction
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Brain Repair
and Regeneration are Possible! |
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| CNS is a nonprofit research foundation improving the lives of children disabled by neurological disorders through research focused on brain repair and regeneration. |
| The Problem |
| Research for childhood neurological disorders is poorly supported, slowing development of laboratory discoveries into safe, effective treatments for children with neurological disorders. |
| The Solution |
Fund
high-quality research focused on brain repair and regeneration. |
Sponsor
meetings where physicians and scientists can work together |
Encourage
young scientists to pursue pediatric neurological research |
Advocate
increased funding for pediatric neurological research |
Educate
families about options for treating their children |
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