Georgia Governor Signs Executive Order for Adult Stem Cell Research Bank
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 14, 2006
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) — Georgia Gov Sonny Perdue has signed an executive order to create an umbilical cord stem cell bank to facilitate adult stem cell research. The move came after a bill to do that got stalled in the state legislature.
Perdue signed the executive order Friday to create the state stem cell banks and said they were needed because adult stem cells have already proven effective in treating patients with various conditions.
The order creates a 15 member commission that would be charged with establishing the stem cell banks. The commission would partner with research universities, biotech firms, hospitals and nonprofit groups.
"Cord blood treatments are an ethically responsible way to relieve suffering and save lives," Perdue said, according to an AP report.
The governor signed the order at the Outpatient Center of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Perdue’s office cited the fact that adult stem cell research has already produced dozens of treatments and cures for various conditions as the reason for the order. On the other hand, embryonic stem cell research has yet to be ready to be tested in clinical trials with humans, yet alone producing treatments.
AP reported that the Governors Commission for Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Research and Medical Treatment will report to Perdue by December 2007.
The executive order was modeled on legislation that didn’t make it through the sate legislature.
Sen. David Shafer, chairman of the Senate Science and Technology Committee, would authorize panels to set up stem cell banks at universities in the state with adult stem cells.
“Stem cell research has been hampered by the controversy over embryonic stem cells,’’ he said back in February. “This bill is designed to move stem cell research forward by sidestepping the controversy.’’
His measure had the backing of George Right to Life.
Related web sites:
Georgia Right to Life – https://www.grtl.org
Georgia State Legislature – https://www.legis.state.ga.us
