Issue: Embryonic Stem Cell Research 

Read the SWHR policy statement on stem cell research.

The debate over embryonic stem cell research has been on going for the past decade because of competing views on the moral and ethical nature of this research, as well as questions of whether the federal government should fund it. SWHR has always been in favor of increased stem cell research funded by our federal agencies.

SWHR is a member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), a coalition comprised of nationally-recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, foundations, and individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders, advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in regenerative medicine—including stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer—in order to cure disease and alleviate suffering.  Many states have been making great strides in providing support for stem cell research.  This includes providing funding for it and passing laws to allow it. Please visit the CAMR Web site for more information, both at the federal and state level.

History of the Debate Over Stem Cell Research

Opponents of embryonic stem cell research hold that human life begins as soon as an egg is fertilized, and they consider a human embryo to be a human being. They therefore consider any research that necessitates the destruction of a human embryo to be morally abhorrent. Some opponents of embryonic stem cell research also argue that research on stem cells obtained from adults is just as promising and renders embryonic stem cell research unnecessary. Most scientists, however, dispute this claim, citing great potential in the field of adult stem cells but several drawbacks as compared with embryonic stem cells. Opponents of the research also believe that the Federal Government should not fund the research, and argue that adult stem cells can function as well or better than embryonic stem cells.

Proponents of embryonic stem cell research argue that embryonic stem cells—as opposed to adult stem cells—have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to transform into any type of cell in the human body and could result in treatments or cures for the millions of Americans suffering from many of humanity's most devastating illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and heart disease.

In 1998, after researchers first reported the isolation of human embryonic stem cells, President Bill Clinton requested a review of the issues surrounding stem cell research by the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC), a presidential appointed committee established to advise the federal government on bioethics issues. In September 1999, NBAC released its report, entitled Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research. The report concluded that the federal government should fund research on, and the derivation of, human embryonic stem cells, provided that only embryos leftover from fertility treatments were used. It proposed that Congress carve out an exception to its embryo research ban for the derivation of embryonic stem cells.

On August 23, 2000, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published Guidelines for Research Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for the public funding of embryonic stem cell research in the United States. The guidelines indicated that NIH would fund research using human pluripotent stem cells from early human embryos only if investigators use cells derived from frozen embryos that were created for purposes of infertility treatment and were in excess of clinical need. The guidelines also identified areas of research that were ineligible for funding and stated that no NIH funds would be used to derive pluripotent stem cells from human embryos. Finally, the guidelines outlined in detail the methods and procedures by which NIH will fund this area of research, including the establishment of a Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Review Group (HPSCRG), which would review funding requests and provide oversight of proposed uses of human pluripotent stem cells.

Shortly after taking the oath of office, President Bush issued a legal review of the NIH Guidelines. On August 9, 2001, after months of deliberation, President Bush rescinded the NIH Guidelines and announced that the Federal government would support embryonic stem cell research on approximately 60 existing cell lines, but banned the creation of additional stem cells from embryos stored at in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. Following the President's announcement, the NIH was charged with ensuring that federal funds are used to support only stem cell research that is scientifically sound, legal, and ethical by examining the derivation of all existing stem cell lines and creating a registry of those lines that satisfy the President's criteria.

On September 11, 2001, the National Academy of Sciences released a report on stem cells which concluded that public funding should be made available for research on both embryonic and adult cells, and that in the long run, it will be necessary to derive new embryonic stem cell lines.

On November 7, 2001, the NIH posted the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry. The Registry lists the human embryonic stem cell lines—at varying stages of development—that meet the eligibility criteria set by President Bush on August 9. The registry is available at http://escr.nih.gov/.

On November 14, 2001, the NIH announced the withdrawal of those sections of the NIH Guidelines that pertain to research involving human stem cells derived from human embryos that are the result of in vitro fertilization and are in excess of clinical need. The new criteria determined by President Bush, to allow Federal funding for research using existing embryonic stem cell lines—is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/print/20010809-1.html.

In June 2004, more than 200 members of the House of Representatives and 58 members of the Senate signed on to letters urging President Bush to rescind his administration’s restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research. On June 24, 2004, Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) and DeGette introduced new legislation H.R.4682, the “Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act,” which would expand the number of stem cell lines available for federal funding.

In February 2005, both Representatives Castle and DeGette and Senators Specter and Harkin reintroduced their companion stem cell research bills in the 109th Congress, and H.R. 810 passed the House in May 2005 by a vote of 238-194.

With much fanfare, on July 18, 2006, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 810 by a vote of 63-37.  The stem lines in the bill are derived from frozen embryos that are stored at fertility clinics and slated for destruction.  The bill was sent immediately to the president for his approval.  However, the president issued his first veto of his presidency the following day. The U.S House of Representatives attempted to override President Bush’s veto but failed by a vote of 235-193, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.

On March 9, 2009, President Barack Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13505 entitled “Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells”  This EO overturns an order signed by President Bush in 2001 that barred the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding research on embryonic stem cells beyond using the 60 cell lines that existed at that time. President Obama also signed a presidential memorandum establishing greater independence for federal science policies and programs.

On July 7, 2009, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued their guidelines on embryonic stem cell research. These guidelines implement President Obamas executive order, as it pertains to extramural NIH-funded stem cell research, establish policy and procedures under which the NIH will fund such research, and helps ensure that NIH-funded research in this area is ethically responsible, scientifically worthy, and conducted in accordance with applicable law. The new guidelines will allow for federally funded research using existing stem cell lines, as long as those lines were created according to the ethical standards set forth in the guidelines.  

(Last updated: August 7, 2009)