Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued the following statement today regarding the injunction issued yesterday by a U.S. District Court prohibiting the use of federal funds to support embryonic stem cell research:
“We already have seen the promising possibility of stem cell research with companies like Geron showing astonishing results in the area of spinal cord injuries. As we have previously said, researchers should pursue all areas of stem cell research in the search for new therapies and cures.”
"The preliminary injunction issued yesterday by the U.S. District Court blocking federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research casts a dark cloud of uncertainty, for the moment, on promising ESC research. For more than a decade, ESC research has consistently demonstrated that it holds great hope for the development of breakthrough treatments and cures for debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and more.
"Each day we wait for the judicial process to play out is a day lost for patients and their families living with such diseases.
"We already have seen the promising possibility of stem cell research with companies like Geron showing astonishing results in the area of spinal cord injuries. As we have previously said, researchers should pursue all areas of stem cell research in the search for new therapies and cures.
"We hope the judicial process moves quickly to clear this uncertainty to permit federally funded ESC research to move forward again. Millions of patients are waiting."
New study reveals potential cellular mechanism behind cognitive decline in Alzheimer's