AIBS ENDORSES FASEB STATEMENT SUPPORTING STEM CELL RESEARCH
– The AIBS Board of Directors has endorsed the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology’s (www.faseb.org) statement on stem cell research. That statement reads:
“The leadership of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) affirms its continued support for research on human embryonic stem cells. We continue to endorse the National Institutes of Health (NIH) draft guidelines for this research and applaud the agency for its forward-looking stance in regards to the issues. The careful efforts of the Working Group of the NIH Advisory Committee resulted in guidelines that will facilitate the research necessary to realize the future medical benefits of human embryonic stem cells while preserving the dignity of human donors and respecting the unique ethical sensitivity of these cells. The momentous possibilities of medical research at this frontier of experimental biology make it imperative that embryonic stem cell research continues to move forward. Because embryonic stem cells are able to form all of the cell types of the body, understanding how to control their differentiation could lead to novel therapies for presently untreatable diseases. Thus, embryonic stem cell research promises to have an enormous impact on the health and longevity of people everywhere.
