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Genetic Nondiscrimination Campaign
Gains Momentum
The campaign for protection from
genetic discrimination continues. Please add your voice in support of the
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2005 (H.R.1227)! To learn more
about this legislation and how you can help build support for it, visit:
http://www.geneticfairness.org/act.html.
Stem Cell Bills Blocked
HR 810: The Stem Cell Research
Enhancement Act of 2005
July 18, 2006 marked passage by the
Senate of The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 and also spurred the
President’s first veto.
HR 810 would have eliminated the
restrictions the President put into effect five-years-ago, which limited the use
of federal money to embryonic stem cell lines created before August 9, 2001.
Supporters say the current bill would have increased the number of stem cell
lines available for scientific embryonic stem cell research.
However, scientists have said the
bill would have continued to prevent the use of federal money to create new cell
lines if it involved the destruction of embryos as well as preventing the use of
federal money to create stem cells for therapeutic cloning.
Supporters of the bill have said it is essential for the productive continuation
of embryonic stem cell research that new cell lines be open for use. Because
these older lines were grown using animal cells or serum, they hold the
possibility of being unsuitable for use as medical therapy. In addition, some of
these cells accumulate genetic abnormalities over time, making them hard to use
even for simple research.
Santorum bill (S. 2754):
A bill to derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not
knowingly harm embryos
Overlooked in the hype about the
Presdient's veto of HR 810 was S.2754 (the Santorum Bill), intended to direct
NIH funding to research studying how to derive human pluripotent stem cell lines
using techniques that do not knowingly harm embryos.
On July 18, the Senate passed this
bill unanimously and turned the bill over to the House for its first
consideration, where it failed to pass. There is currently a motion to suspend
the rules and pass the bill failed by Yeahs and Nays (2/3 required). The
bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Burr (NC), James M. Inhofe (OK), Arlen
Specter (PA), Susan M. Collins
(ME) and Jeff Sessions (AL).
Chem Div, Yale Receive Phase II NIH Grant
Research to Focus on
Development of Novel Drugs for the Treatment Of Adrenal Gland Disorders
SAN DIEGO and NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/— ChemDiv, Inc. and
Yale University have announced that they have been awarded a joint Phase
II NIH grant to further develop small molecule inhibitors of the G- rotein
coupled receptor, melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R). ChemDiv will be responsible
for medicinal chemistry optimization of the lead molecules using a panel of in
vitro biochemical and cell-based assays, while the Yale scientists will perform
the in depth follow-up studies on the mode of action of the discovered hits,
with the ultimate goal being the development of effective drugs to treat
congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Cushing’s diseases in
children. |
