Kirsch Foundation Annual Report 2002-2003/Contents

The Issue:
Embryonic stem cell research could help over 100 million Americans affected by life-threatening diseases and conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries and ALS. Two years after President George W. Bush’s decision severely limiting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (August 9, 2001), scientists, patient groups, and universities agree that progress in the U.S. is stalling due to the Administration’s policy. This policy, which allows federal funds to be used only on a small number of stem cell lines, has hindered critical research advances.

Action:
The Kirsch Foundation remains engaged in two major battles: to expand the President’s embryonic stem cell research policy and to ensure that somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is protected at federal and statewide levels.

The Foundation’s work is conducted through a collaborative effort among patient groups, scientists, and numerous organizations: the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR). The Foundation’s Vice President, Public Policy, Susan Frank, participates in CAMR as one of its Board officers and active advocates.

As of June 2003:
• Through CAMR, we forged a bipartisan coalition that halted 2003 legislation in the U.S. Senate that could have criminalized biomedical research using laboratory techniques of SCNT.
• We provided a $30,000 grant to CAMR as the lead organization working on stem cell research and SCNT issues in Washington, DC, and $15,000 to underwrite the American Society of Cell Biology’s national conference symposium on stem cell research and bio-ethics.
• Given the stalemate at the federal level, we worked with states to legislate this new form of potentially lifesaving medical research.
• We actively supported two California stem cell research bills authored by State Senator Deborah Ortiz that establish and administer a stem cell research program and review and accept stem cell research proposals.