NIH Head Calls for More Stem Cell Research

[Tuckerfan]

Wonder how long before he’s replaced for “poor job performance”?

In a stunning split with President Bush, the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has called for the ban on new federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to be lifted, charging that it is hobbling scientists’ ability to find new cures and treatments.

“The answer is yes,” Elias Zerhouni told a Senate panel this week when asked if he believes the limit is stifling efforts to find new medical breakthroughs. “It is very clear from my point of view that the current cell lines will not be sufficient to do the research we want to do…. It’s not possible for me to see how we can continue the momentum of science and in stem cell research with the lines we currently have.”

Let’s hope Congress has the cojones to overturn the ban, and then Bush’s veto.

[Sage_Rat]

cheers