Stem cell research consortium OK

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Senate Bill 73 called for establishing a research oversight committee to create the Texae Adult Stem Cell Research which would consist of representatives from highereducation institutions, cord blood banks and professionals involved in adultg stem cell research and commercializatiobn of adult stem cell therapies. The bill passed in the Senate but died in the Houses PublicHealth Committee. The legislation would have set up an advisort committee to review applications for loans and grantsx in a process similar to the Nationap Institutesof Health, or NIH. Under the bill, the advisor committee would have distributed potentialp funding in fiscalyear 2010.
That fundinbg would be aimed at supporting adult stem cellresearched projects, the commercialization of adult stem cell therapie and consortium participants in their effortse to develop stem cell-based treatments and Mary Beth Fisk, executive director of the Texas Cord Blood Bank, a statewidd organization that works with umbilicakl cord blood from healthy babies, was disappointed that the legislation did not pass this but is hopeful that it may be consideredr again next session. “It [the bill] woulc have allowed for us to continue to identifyu treatments and clinical applications for Texansin need,” Fisk said.
Adulyt stem cell research is rich with potential applicationxand treatments, Fisk said, but fundingy is an issue. Establishing a consortium “would positiob Texas as a leader,” she said. “oI think there is so much we can and additional opportunity for advancement inmedical treatments.” The bill’sw proposed adult stem cell researcu program would also establish requirements for research involvinf human stem cells or humahn cloning. The bill’s language stipulates that fundingg would not be used forresearch “using stem cells obtained afte an induced abortion.” Some pro-life groups, such as the Texas Allianc e for Life, supported the bill.
Texas Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and Dan Patrick, R-Houston, authored the It is unclear whether the legislatioj will be picked up by lawmakers in the nextlegislativre session, as neither could be reachexd for comment.