FRC Praises California, Maryland for Shifting Focus to Ethical Stem Cell Research

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Dec 04, 2013, 03:55 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) is encouraged by a new story from the Washington Times highlighting recent findings from the Charlotte Lozier Institute on state funding for stem cell research. The institute has found that the bulk of stem cell funding grants in California and Maryland are now going to ethical stem cell research, and not unethical embryonic stem cell research – a decided shift in focus for these states.

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Of the findings FRC's Senior Fellow Dr. David Prentice said:

"This latest news simply emphasizes what advocates of ethical stem cell research have said for years – adult stem cells are the true gold standard for stem cells. They are certainly golden for patients; more than 60,000 people a year around the world are currently treated with adult stem cells.

"We heard for years that embryonic stem cells were the 'only' stem cells for treatment as well as lab research, and the federal government as well as several states rushed to pour money onto this research. But even in states previously devoted exclusively to embryonic stem cell and cloning research, the majority of grants now are going to ethical, successful adult stem cell studies.

"Embryonic stem cell research relies on the destruction of young human life, and has zero proven successes for patients. Adult stem cells provide effective treatments now for dozens of diseases and conditions, with many more therapies under development. They're the best cells for the job, and all without harming the stem cell donors.

"States such as Kansas, with its new comprehensive Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center devoted to adult stem cell therapies, research, education and physician training, are at the leading edge of the science. Adult stem cell research is showing tremendous progress, while holding the ethical line that defends all human life at every stage of life.

"Adult stem cells save lives," Prentice concluded.

Prentice is an internationally-recognized expert on stem cells and cloning, and has testified before the U.S. Congress, numerous state legislatures, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the President's Council on Bioethics, European Parliament, British Parliament, Canadian Parliament, Australian Parliament, German Bundestag, French Senate, Swedish Parliament, the Vatican, and the United Nations. This year he helped the state of Kansas establish its Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center.

To read more about life-saving and ethical adult stem cell treatments, click here: http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/

SOURCE Family Research Council