Link: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd5vs2xt_0hkwp6xd8 Subject: ESCR under attack - CONTACT NIH TODAY!!! Forwarded message from Don Reed, national stem cell research advocate-- Dear Stem Cell Research Advocate: The next 6 days are crucial in the stem cell research struggle. Here's why. Remember when President Obama signed that document removing the Bush stem cell restrictions? That same day he called upon the National Institutes of Health to draft a new set of guidelines for scientists wanting federal funding. Those guidelines have just been issued. see http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009draft.htm The next 2 days are the comment period for the new guidelines for stem cell research, which American scientists will have to live with if they want federal funding. This is the public's only chance to shape those guidelines: which can be improved-or made worse. Unfortunately, there are problems with the proposed guidelines! Not only are the guidelines far more conservative than we had hoped, but opponents of the research are systematically flooding the comment process. Conservative religious bodies, have launched a national campaign to attack early stem cell research by mass emails to the NIH. *"The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a new "Oppose Destructive Stem Cell Research" campaign today, equipping citizens to contact Congress and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to oppose embryonic stem cell research ." -- WASHINGTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ www.usccb.org/stemcellcampaign Is their anti-research campaign having an effect? Dr. Wise Young of Rutgers University , ". of the 6000 plus comments that NIH has received concerning the draft guidelines, 99% were from people who opposed embryonic stem cell research."-Carecure Forum http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showpost.php?p=1039001&postcount=12
Article Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514125151.htm
End of the Line for Existing Stem Cell Research?
ScienceDaily (May 14, 2009) — Time is short for scientists to respond to the call for comments on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed guidelines for the use of human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines and their eligibility for federal funds. On May 26, the window to provide feedback will close, and the drafted rules leave the possibility that funding for almost all existing cell lines will disappear.
In a Forum article to be published online on May 14 by Cell Press in the journal Cell Stem Cell, Patrick Taylor, deputy general counsel at Children's Hospital Boston, explains some of the legal implications of the NIH's new funding rules, should they be adopted as written. Since the rules are retroactive, he explains, ongoing research is threatened.
"Research with almost all existing cell lines will not be fundable, leaving almost no federal funds for research using cells created ethically since 2001. This will mean a loss of much of the research benefit of the last eight years, even though that research was independently reviewed and determined to be ethical under federal standards," says Taylor. "It is vitally important that scientists are aware of this problem and that the situation is resolved as quickly as possible."
Ronald McKay, director of the NIH Stem Cell Unit, agrees and points out that, as proposed, the current draft guidelines may not even allow for continued research on the 21 ES cell lines approved by President Bush in 2001. "It is important to recognize that continued access to the ES cells themselves is important for medical research," says McKay. "It is common to use the economic metaphor of the 'gold standard' when discussing the value of human ES cells. But unlike gold, stem cells will not retain value if they are locked in a bank and we cannot analyze their secrets. Continued access to these cells will ensure no delay in understanding the links between human genetics and disease," he adds.
The slow pace of commenting is symptomatic of a broader tendency within the scientific community. "Despite federal encouragement and the ease of posting a comment, scientists do not seem to be participating unless the proposals directly impact their research," outlines science writer Amy Maxman in an Analysis piece to be published by Cell Press in the journal Cell on the same day. The article explains how scientists can offer their views as part of the consultation on items listed at the Federal Register, such as by providing comments on the draft human ES cell guidelines currently under consideration, to ensure that federal agencies receive a balanced perspective of public opinion.
Researchers from all scientific disciplines and interested members of the general public can comment on the proposed guidelines at http://nihoerextra.nih.gov/stem_cells/add.htm until 11 p.m. EST on May 26.
The reseacher is Patrick Taylor, of Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, in Boston, MA.
Found this on the Obama Facebook group.
Did you know a group of 125 people from New York are traveling to Ohio for the entire week before election week? The group is arranging lodging, expenses, etc. Are there any group trips like this going on from the Chicago area? I personally think the best places to spend our time are Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Colorado, or New Mexico. I think Virginia would be the best investment.
saying he respects McCain's military service and saying positive things about him immediately. This does nothing but benefit McCain and makes Obama look like a softy. With the new poll numbers out, I'm telling you that Obama cannot give McCain any rest. We need more attacks on policy and yes character. He was able to do that with Hillary Clinton and he can do that McCain. I want to see Obama forcefully call out McCain on his lying and his positions. He is not being aggressive enough in quelling the lies and distortions. That is not negative campaigning as long as he tells the truth and it is relative to the election.
The Obama campaign needs to look at reality and start hitting hard. If you disregard the polls, it is a huge mistake and lead to a loss like it did for Kerry. Unfortunately, politics is a nasty business and negative ads work. Obama can be forceful and aggressive without resorting to Republican tactics.
And may I repeat, STOP praising McCain! No more. Unfortunately, Obama will have to show some more backbone and improving poll numbers before I donate more money. He still has time to learn from this experience and change his tune. In the mean time, I will give to the DNC.
Check out this blog post to find out more.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/harperlee/gG5TWF
