Neb. university regents draft stem-cell resolution
OMAHA, Neb. - OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A clash over embryonic stem cell research appears to be brewing among members of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and could come to a head at the board's next meeting.
Four members of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents who oppose embryonic stem cell research have drafted a resolution that would limit such research at the university system's facilities. The resolution would restrict stem-cell research to only stem-cell lines approved under former President George W. Bush.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center has teams conducting research on approved stem cell lines, including studies of the liver, emphysema and stem cell mechanics. The university does not clone human embryos for reproductive purposes or harvest stem cells for research on disease cures. University President J.B. Milliken has asked that tighter restrictions not be put on embryonic stem cell research.
The resolution's co-authors are Tim Clare of Lincoln, Bob Phares of North Platte and Randy Ferlic and Howard Hawks of Omaha. Each have the backing of one of Nebraska's most recognized anti-abortion groups, Nebraska Right to Life.
Regent Jim McClurg of Lincoln, who also is backed by the group, did not sign on to the resolution.
McClurg said Friday that he was "given the opportunity to be one of the co-signers," but said he plans to wait until after public comments are presented at the Nov. 20 meeting to decide whether to vote for the resolution. If McClurg is swayed to reject the resolution, the vote on the 8-member board could be split. There is no tiebreaker; a split vote means the proposal fails.
In the meantime, he will slog through the flurry of calls, e-mails and letters from both sides of the debate.
"There are people with very strong beliefs and feelings about this issue on both sides," he said. "They are passionate and cordial and heartfelt in their messages."
The proposed resolution follows President Barack Obama's lifting earlier this year of government funding restrictions for research on new lines of stem cells. Supporters hope the research will lead to cures for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Opponents believe embryos, which are destroyed during the research, are the starting point of human life and that destroying them is immoral.
A 2008 Nebraska law prohibits the use of state money or facilities for creating or destroying embryos for stem-cell research using a technique commonly referred to as therapeutic cloning.
Anti-abortion groups' problem with the law is that it does not cover funding for embryonic stem-cell research outside of therapeutic cloning, said Nebraska Right to Life Director Julie Schmidt-Albin.
She said the university's policy regarding stem cell research is to follow whatever the federal law allows. Opening up funding to new stem cell lines is "the camel's nose under the tent," Schmidt-Albin said.
"It's not just going to be a matter of using the supply of frozen embryos that are there in in vitro labs now," she said. "If they come up with treatments and things from that, they're going to want to keep making more and more cell lines, and that means going back to creating embryos for the express purpose of destroying them."
Regents Bob Whitehouse of Papillion and Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons said Friday that they do not plan to support the resolution, saying good can come from those embryos that would otherwise be destroyed.
"I feel very strongly that embryonic stem cell research continues to give hope to those who have little or none, with diseases we know might someday have a hope to find a cure," Whitehouse said.
Regent Kent Schroeder of Kearney did not immediately return messages and e-mails sent Friday by The Associated Press seeking comment.
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