Stem Cells in the News

December 7, 2005

David Christensen, Director of Congressional Affairs for Family Research Council, has an informative Op-Ed in The Washington Times on the history and status of stem cell legislation in the U.S. Congress.

At first, the Senate attempted to package a series of votes on several bills dealing with embryonic stem-cell funding, human cloning, human chimeras and the cord-blood bill. Unfortunately, senators could not agree on this package because, reportedly, some Senate Democrats, who wanted an up-or-down vote on the House-passed embryonic stem-cell bill, did not want an up-or-down vote on Sen. Sam Brownback’s bill to ban human cloning. Stalemate resulted, with the cord-blood bill held as political hostage.

Read the whole thing.

Also in the news, well-known singer Don Ho has received an experimental blood stem cell treatment for his heart.

It involves multiplying stem cells taken from his blood and injecting them into his heart in hopes of strengthening the organ, according to Ed Brown, a close friend.

While trials are underway in the US, Ho traveled to Bangkok for the procedure. He is recovering there, and anticipates returning to Hawaii in two weeks. I’ll keep you posted.