Republican backs stem cell research in US Senate

A senior Republican member of the US Senate spoke in support of allowing federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, increasing the chance that Congress will allow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund such work. Strom Thurmond's (Republican, South Carolina) testimony was an indication that some US anti-abortion politicians, who might have been expected to oppose such work, are willing to support NIH funding for stem cell research because of its potential health benefits.

At a 4th November hearing of the appropriations subcommittee for labour, health and education, chaired by Arlen Specter (Republican, Pennsylvania), 96-year-old Thurmond said 'The NIH must be actively involved in stem-cell research,' because 'NIH financial support of this research will allow us to move toward clinical applications.' Supporters of stem cell research hope that Thurmond's testimony will persuade other conservatives in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to back federal funding.

At the hearing, Specter reckoned that Thurmond's previous support for federal funding of research using fetal tissue had been responsible for doubling the number of Senate votes in its favour from about 40 to 80. However, other Republicans reiterated their opposition to any work involving human embryonic stem cell - including the NIH's position, which is that it is prepared to fund research - using cells that have been extracted by private companies. Many believe this position could be challenged in the courts.