WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept 1, 2010) – On August 23, 2010, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction halting the federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research. This injunction prevents the NIH from implementing, applying, or taking any action pursuant to the 2009 NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research or using federal funds for this research.
“SWHR is deeply disturbed by the recent ruling abruptly cutting off funds for embryonic stem cell research,” said Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research. “This will have tremendous impact on current and future research and on the health of the women and men waiting for the cures this research can offer. Scientific research and patients’ lives cannot continue to be put on hold. It is the sincere hope of SWHR that this essential research is able to continue.”
SWHR strongly supports this area of biomedical research and believes that it would be tragic to ignore the unique potential for alleviating human suffering afforded by studying stem cells that would have otherwise been discarded.
Stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into any human cell type, replacing or repairing damaged cells that cause disability or disease and offer real hope for life-improving treatments for diabetes, damaged heart tissue, arthritis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS and spinal cord injuries, to name but a few. There is also the possibility that these cells could be used to create more complex, vital organs such as kidneys, livers, or even hearts, perhaps someday negating the need and wait for donor organs.
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For more information on the Society for Women’s Health Research please contact Rachel Griffith at 202-496-5001 or Rachel@swhr.org.
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