Clearly something is seriously amiss in NJ.

On Dkos you may also have seen my diary in June titled "Christopher Reeve Betrayed by NJ Governor".

A lesson for the hESCR community is that rather than work for the symbolism of making hESCR legal in all states, it may be more important to be vigilant in those states that already support hESCR but have not come through on their hESCR promise.

Let’s make sure we’re not just satisfied with "crumbs" as in "half a loaf is better than none", while the state of NJ falsely keeps hyping the extent of their hESCR funding.

How pale are words, compared to the blazing reality of a maple leaf in Autumn — or a stem cell convention.

The Stem Cell Summit, October 2-3, was organized by Bernie Siegel’s Genetics Policy Institute, Steve Burrill’s Life Sciences Media Group, and, Harvard University, one of the greatest educational institutes in the world.

It was October 2, 2007. Hynes Convention Center, Boston Massachusetts . High ceilings, spacious auditoriums, light sources suspended high above, a soaring atmosphere.

It’s hard to pull highlights out of a meeting that was all highlights. But let’s try anyway.

Jammed—more than 600 high-impact executives, entrepreneurs, scientists, politicians, patients and activists—it occurred to me we really did not want an earthquake today, or we could have lost a huge cross-section of the stem cell research leadership of the nation.

(Read on …)

Funny how a lot of stem cell advocacy is simply preaching to the choir, with a few exeptions like Michael J Fox, who takes his message directly to the people through well-placed commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8lsjfjgAA8

I have high hopes for a new advocacy organization created by Michael J Fox called: Cures and Hope USA

Cures and Hope USA is a non-partisan, pro-stem cell educational and political advocacy organization dedicated to building nationwide support for stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research (ESC). Cures and Hope USA’s focus will be to educate the electorate on all forms of stem cell research so that voters will make informed decisions when they enter the voting booth in 2008.

There are other ways non-partisan advocacy organizations can have an impact outside the realm of  "preaching to the choir", and that is to monitor and and hold accountable state stem cell programs as to their effectiveness in funding the type of stem cell research that the federal government has chosen to ignore.

In the absence of advocacy organizations’ strong response against states that use the positive ESCR propaganda to primarily funnel monies into adult stem cell research, it is heartening to see a prominent state Senator taking up the "diversion" issue where ESCR advocacy organizations failed:

September 20, 2007

Honorable Jon S. Corzine

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 001

Trenton, N. J. 08625

Dear Governor Corzine:

As a firm supporter of stem cell research, I commend you for your efforts in bringing the state of New Jersey to the forefront of stem cell research.  I believe that it is imperative that the state of New Jersey funds the type of stem cell research that the federal government has chosen to ignore.    

I am writing to encourage you to explore the promotion of embryonic stem cell research.  If New Jersey wants to become a leader in stem cell research, it must also be a leader in promoting embryonic stem cell research.  It was my understanding that New Jersey would primarily be promoting embryonic stem cell research.  Yet, out of the seventeen award recipients of 2006, only two are truly focused on the promotion of embryonic stem cell research. 

I appreciate your consideration in this matter.  I would ask that you contact me at 732-462-8883 or at SenKarcher@njleg.org.

Sincerely,

Ellen Karcher

Senator, 12^th Legislative District

PS 1 A big "thank you" goes out to Bob Katz, for forwarding a copy of this letter to stemblog.

PS 2 Let’s join Ellen Karcher in questioning Governor Corzine directly about how ESCR is quite neglected in NJ, contrary to the big hoopla that corzine and others are making over getting ESCR going in NJ.

For starters let’s send Senator Karcher a big THANK YOU note for standing up for the patient families who are desperately waiting to see ESCR proceed in the context of the various state programs.

One of the favorite arguments used "against" federal funding for ESCR is that "ESCR hasn’t led to a single cure yet". The catch 22 is that lack of research funds inevitably leads to lack of progress.

But luckily those who make their false claim are grossly wrong, as I know of at least three treatments that will be going to clinical trials in 2008. Two are for spinal cord injury and one is to treat blindness.

Ironically the first treatment uses cells from the 8 week stage of development that were obtained from elective abortion, but which are actually eligible for federal funding:

(Read on …)

With a new President on the horizon, things are definitely looking up in the cutting-edge science arena. We will most certainly be able to accelerate the innovative discoveries needed to cure devastating medical conditions.

Those of us who are dealing with debilitating and deadly disorders in our families, will be pleased to find out about the latest advances that have already been made in hESCR and other stem cell research.

I urge you to check out this exciting line-up of leading stem cell researchers, and meet policy experts and family advocates at The Stem Cell Summit in Boston, Oct 2-3, 2007. Partial roster of speakers:

Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD
CEO, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Kenneth R. Chien, PhD
Director, MGH Cardiovascular Research Center

George Q. Daley, MD, PhD
Principal Faculty, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Assistant Director, Stem Cell Research Program, Children’s Hospital Boston
President-elect, International Society for Stem Cell Research (Read on …)