Rep. Diana DeGette's fight for stem cell research: exclusive interview

[angka]

Listen to an exclusive interview with Congresswoman DeGette
Urge the Senate to support bill expanding federal research funding

Millions of people suffer from health problems that could be treated or even cured through stem cell research like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, stroke, and spinal cord injury, burns, and osteoarthritis.

So it's unbelievable that President Bush banned federal funding for nearly all embryonic stem cell research, effectively ending such research in the U.S.

The ban also sacrificed a potential boon for our economy. The U.S. has now lost its leadership in this area as countries like Great Britain and South Korea have taken the lead. The economic consequences can't be overstated: Just one pound of insulin-producing stem cells could be worth up to $1 billion.

But there is hope -- Congresswoman Diana DeGette has succeeded in passing a bill in the House of Representatives that could help the U.S. reclaim its leadership in stem cell research. Her bill gives couples the option of donating their unused embryos, made through in vitro fertilization, to the pool of embryos available for federally funded stem cell research. A Senate version of the bill will be voted this week. The vote currently is set for Wednesday.

Get informed on this critical issue! Listen to an exclusive ProgressNow.org podcast interview with Congresswoman DeGette and Dr. Curt Freed, one of the nation's leading stem cell researchers:

http://www.progressnow.org/weblog/archives3/permalink/004770.cfm

More than 200 health policy and research groups support the Senate version of DeGette's bill, but the vote is expected to be close. Stand with these groups and Congresswoman DeGette by signing this letter to the Senate:

http://www.progressnow.org/supportresearch

Thank you for taking a stand on this issue!

[angka]

1. bump!

:kick: