Executive Order on Stem Cell Research Foundation Lifts Ban on Federal Funding
March 18, 2009
On March 9, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order that “many scientists and researchers, doctors, and investors, patients and loved ones have hopes for.” With this Executive Order Obama also said, “We will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research.”
The President acknowledged that “Many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about, or strongly oppose, this research,” and “I understand their concerns, and we must respect their point of view.” But he believes the path the U.S. must follow is to conduct the research so that America remains competitive with the rest of the world’s scientific advances. However, he also promised “strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce . . . and we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction.”
Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells
Dr. Douglas Kniss, professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, has been coordinating the university’s stem cell activities with State of Ohio legislators and executives. In the view of Dr. Kniss, “The decision to overturn the Executive Order imposed by the Bush Administration 2001 is a critical first step in the quest to revitalize stem cell research in the U.S. and return us to a position of competiveness on the international scientific scene. It is also a step in the right direction of separating the politics from scientific inquiry.”
The Office of Research will keep the campus informed about new federal rules and Ohio States’ implementation of any additional reviews and procedures for using embryonic stem cells in research.
