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As Embryonic Stem Cell Limits Lift, Will State TBED Be Affected?
On Monday, President Obama signed an executive order concerning embryonic stem cell research in addition to signing a presidential memorandum that strengthens the influence of science-based decision making in the executive branch of the federal government.
The executive order consists of three main points. It revokes previous presidential executive orders limiting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, it supports the NIH conducting responsible and scientifically worthy research with human embryonic stem cells, and it requests the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review and issue new guidelines concerning human stem cell research within 120 days. Instead of restricting access for scientists who receive federal funds to 21 embryonic stem cell lines created before August 2001, researchers can now use federal support to access other stem cell lines.
While President Obama's order broadens opportunities for federal stem cell research funding by lifting previous executive orders issued by former President Bush, it remains to be seen if Congress will impose new or additional restrictions through legislation.
But how will the president's actions impact state and regional efforts to encourage growth through the life sciences?
It will not make much difference at all in some states where laws were passed. Laws on human embryonic stem cell research vary by limits placed on their four sources: existing stem cell lines, unused in vitro fertilized embryos, aborted or miscarried embryos, and cloned embryos, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). South Dakota, for example, prohibits research on embryos regardless of the source. Louisiana is the only state that prohibits research utilizing in vitro fertilized embryos, according to the NCSL. The Arizona Republic reported that the Obama's executive order will have "little impact" in Arizona because the state legislature has previously set limits on embryonic stem cell research.
In states with fewer legal restrictions on embryonic stem cell usage, or states that promote utilizing embryonic stem cells, research may become a more efficient process as funds and physical resources from federal, state, and philanthropic resources can now be pooled together in laboratories. The potential access to more federal funding increases as well.
NCSL's comparative analysis on each state's legislation concerning varying provisions of embryonic stem cell research is available at:
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/Genetics/embfet.htm
The recently signed executive order on embryonic stem cells is available at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Removing-Barriers-to-Responsible-Scientific-Research-Involving-Human-Stem-Cells/
President Obama's memorandum, which instructs the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to develop within 120 days recommendations "to guarantee scientific integrity" in the executive branch, is available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-3-9-09/