One main proponent of stem cell research
is the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, CAMR. A conglomeration
of over seventy interest groups, CAMR supports funding for five main reasons.
According to the Coalition's website,
embryonic stem cell research:
1) has the potential to cure a
number of deadly diseases
2) is supported by a majority of
the public
3) is superior to research using
adult stem cells
4) is a way of countering the otherwise
wasteful destruction of embryos, and
5) is preferable to privately funded
research.
The American Society for Pharmacology
and Experimental Therapeutics or ASPET is another interest group involved
in the issue. Although driven by different motives than some interest
groups concerned with the issue, they support the National Health and
Human Services decision to use federal funds for the creation of stem
cells. They believe that an abundance of stem cells can be valuable for
research and development in the areas of pharmaceuticals and transplantation
medicine. According to ASPET, stem cell research would also help create
new drugs because they would provide a human cell line along which these
new drugs could be tested. ASPET believes that federal funding and the
resulting advancement in stem cell research can help provide new opportunities
to treat the most intractable, deadly, and costly diseases.
The National Institute of Health supports
interest groups made up of scientists. One such
group is the SCIG or the Stem Cell Interest Group. This group works to
enhance communication and promote cooperation among scientists interested
in stem cells. They use the group as an open forum of discussion about
many different aspects of stem cell biology. Another such group is the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Outspoken
about the potential for the discovery of numerous cures, this group like
the SCIG is committed to encouraging discussion and education on the issue
of stem cell research. For more information visit these groups' websites.
Links are provided at the sources and references
page.
