Obama reverses federal restrictions on funding for embryonic stem cell research

Medical community weighs in on the future of medicine.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Monday that will lift strict restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research put into place by his predecessor, president George W. Bush.

Under the previous policy, the National Institutes of Health was allowed to fund embryonic stem cell research on 21 stem cell lines derived before Aug. 9, 2001, the date the policy took effect, and prohibited research on cell lines created after that date. The executive order signed by Obama lifts this restriction.

“Today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation. It’s time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore America’s place as the world leader in science and technology,” President Obama stated in a White House press office fact sheet.

Recent advances have been encouraging and demonstrate that research involving both human and nonhuman embryonic stem cells has the potential to lead to better understanding and treatment of many diseases and conditions, such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Physician perspective

“Stem cell research is an area where there is a tremendous amount of heat and very little light,” Alan J. Garber, MD, PhD, chief medical editor of Endocrine Today, said in an interview.

“The researchers in the field believe this will provide new avenues for research and new methodology by which to advance investigations, particularly in the area of diabetes research. There is potential to introduce new technologies and new approaches for the solution and potential cure for type 1 diabetes and perhaps type 2 diabetes as well. To the extent that it will, then this is welcome news,” added Garber, professor in the departments of medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology, and cellular and molecular biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Daniel Einhorn, MD, vice president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, told Endocrine Today that opening the door to advanced stem cell research for diabetes may help to focus on new hormones and cells.

"Now that we have the opportunity to really research hypotheses, we may find that beta cells are not the answer, but rather whole Islets of Langerhans. Even type 2 diabetes could benefit if generating a larger beta cell mass, or mass of islets, was possible," said Einhorn, also medical director of the Scripps Whittier Institute for Diabetes in La Jolla, Ca.

Hani N. Sabbah, PhD, director of Cardiovascular Research Laboratories at Henry Ford Health System, believes that stem cell research holds promise for regenerative medicine and for successful treatment of many diseases of the heart.

“The great potential that such research holds, whether achieved through the use of adult stem cells or embryonic stem cells or both, must guide our present and future research quests,” he told Endocrine Today.

Several medical organizations have released statements this week in response to Obama’s signing of the new executive order.

“Embryonic stem cell research offers enormous potential for the discovery of new disease therapies and possible cures,” Nancy Berliner, MD, president of the American Society of Hematology, said in a press release.

“President Obama has replaced eight years of frustration with a renewed sense of hope and optimism for the 100 million Americans suffering from cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating diseases and disorders,” Amy Comstock Rick, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, said in a press release.

Under the executive order, the director of the NIH will develop guidelines for the support and conduct of responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, to the extent permitted by law, including gathering necessary scientific data and published best practices. The NIH will then post draft guidelines for public comment and review all responses. Within 120 days of signing the executive order, the NIH will issue final guidance, according to an official White House memorandum.

“Some say that the previous order has been blocking research. Until it is actually shown that there was a promising technology that was in fact blocked — we don’t really know,” Garber said. – by Katie Kalvaitis