News article : NYT stem cell report not final word

[Linda J Herman <ljherman1@xxxxxxxx>]

FROM:
 USA TODAY
June 28, 2001, Thursday, FIRST EDITION
SECTION: LIFE; Pg. 8D
LENGTH: 816 words
HEADLINE: Published stem cell report not final word
BYLINE: Michelle Healy from staff and wire reportsE-mail
Betterlife@xxxxxxxxxxxx

"A draft report by the National Institutes of Health on the benefits of
stem cell
research, published in Wednesday's New York Times, is different from the
final
version currently being studied by officials at the Department of Health
and
Human Services and the Bush administration, sources say. "The information
that
The New York Times was using represents an earlier version that was not
sent to
the Department of Health and Human Services," says Don Ralbovsky, a
spokesman for the National Institutes of Health. The leaked draft report
apparently
described the benefits of embryonic stem cell research in more positive
terms
than the final version now in the hands of the administration. The final
version
uses more conservative language to describe potential benefits, according
to
sources who say they have seen the new report. The Bush administration
asked for
the NIH report as it considers whether to allow federal funding of
embryonic
stem cell research. Regardless of politics, scientists have demonstrated
that
embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to develop into nearly any
type of
tissue, with varying degrees of potential for being developed into
treatments
for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. But
members
of the administration and some members of Congress have opposed embryonic
stem
cell research, stating moral and ethical concerns related to the
destruction of
human embryos. HHS officials say a decision on funding of embryonic stem
cell
research is expected by mid-July.

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