Re: Michael J Fox Fdn - message about stem cell research

[Murray Charters <Murray_Charters@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Michael (Claeys) and All,
This is a time to draw together and ask repeatedly in the next two
weeks for the senators and congressmen to Go Forward, bring this
vital legislation to a positive outcome and trust NIH guidelines.

A few reminders...

President Clinton referred to the benefits of stem cell research
as "potentially staggering." He said: "...I think we cannot walk
away from the potential to save lives and improve lives, to help
people literally to get up and walk, to do all kinds of things we
could never have imagined, as long as we meet rigorous ethical
standards. And I'm convinced ... that has been done."

Nature's Brain Specialist: Neural Stem Cell Research on the Rise
"Mind-Boggling" Potential
The potential market for therapies based on neural stem cells is
hard to put boundaries around. "Conceivably, any CNS problem can
be fixed by neural stem cells. That puts their commercial possibilities
way beyond mind boggling," says Layton's Alonso. Indeed, more people
suffer from diseases of the brain and spinal cord than of any other
category of disease, and the number of such suffers will likely leap
dramatically with the aging of the population. For most of these
disorders, moreover, no effective treatments are available.

One estimate, in fact, has neurodegenerative conditions affecting
more than 10 million people in the US alone and accounting for over
$150 billion in annual health-care costs. Take stroke, the third
leading cause of death and the most common cause of adult disability
in the US. Each year, 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke, with about
30% dying and another 30% becoming permanently disabled, making the
total cost of caring for all aspects of stroke a whopping $42 billion.

"With all due respect to the media-enhanced expectations for
genomics-based therapies, implants of neural stem cells will provide
real-life treatment for neurodegenerative disorders in five to seven
years, well before any genomics-based therapies are commercialized for
these disorders," states NeuroInvestment's Tracy.


Remind your representitives that ONE affliction alone could pay
for all the research money...

Best regards .......... murray

Michael Claeys wrote:
> A hearty "THANK YOU!!" to all Listserve members who have contacted
> their Senators and Representatives in favor of federal funding for
> stem cell research, particularly in support of Michael J. Fox?s testimony.
> The Foundation has received great feedback from Capitol Hill informing us
> that "the phones were ringing off the hooks" last Thursday. Great work!
>
> From the posted messages it is clear that Listserve members are aware the
> stem cell debate continues and that it is important to stay engaged in the
> issue. The Foundation will alert members as soon as a vote is scheduled.
> In the meantime, please continue to urge Congress to immediately fund this
>  vital research.
>
> A very special thanks to Murray Charters for posting the Reuters news story
> about how the government ban has delayed potentially life-saving advances
> in stem cell research. For the over one million Americans with Parkinson?s
> - and millions more living with disease and disability - the cost of
> further delay is unacceptably high.
>

Thankyou Michael for your kind support... murray

>
> Lastly, it is important for Listserve members in Florida, and all across
> the nation, to know that Senator Connie Mack (R-FL) is strong and
> consistent supporter of federal biomedical research funding - including
> research involving stem cells. In fact, earlier this year the Foundation
> honored Senator Mack with a Morris K. Udall Award for his many years of
> leadership on health and research issues.  Sometimes the volume of
> correspondence compels Members of Congress to issue quick, generic
> responses - especially to email. Nonetheless, the Foundation urges and
> expects all Members of Congress, including Senator Mack, to make their
> positions on issues known in clear and unambiguous fashion.
>
> Thanks again to all Listserve members for your commitment to advocacy
> in pursuit of a Parkinson?s cure.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Michael Claeys
>
> Senior Policy Coordinator
>
> Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
>
> 840 3rd Street
>
> Santa Rosa, CA 95404
>
> (800) 850-4726 - voice
>
> (707) 544-2363 - fax
>
> ---------------------------------
>


Murray_Charters@xxxxxxxxx

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