Advocates of Stem Cell Research to Withdraw Lawsuit 
Following President=s Decision to Allow Federal Funding

August 16, 2001 -- For immediate release.

A coalition of the world=s leading researchers on human stem cells, as well as actor Christopher Reeve and patients with Parkinson=s Disease and diabetes, have today dismissed their lawsuit seeking federal funding of stem cell research.  This dismissal was prompted by the recent announcement by President Bush of his decision to allow federal funding of limited stem cell research, which resolved the majority of the issues raised by the lawsuit.  

The lawsuit was filed on May 8, 2001 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  In their papers, the stem cell researchers and patients argued that the administration has no legal authority to suspend funding for stem cell research.  Instead, such funding is expressly protected by federal statute.  Their suit emphasized that the postponement of funding is causing irreparable harm to countless patients whose conditions may be alleviated as a result of stem cell research. 

Stem cells, which have the ability to give rise to almost all of the body=s cell types, are widely regarded as having enormous potential to treat and cure debilitating conditions such diabetes, Parkinson=s Disease, and spinal cord paralysis.  The federal National Institutes of Health (NIH) has referred to stem cells as Aa unique scientific and medical resource.@ 

On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced that he will allow federal funding of research on existing stem cell Alines,@ which were derived from previously discarded human embryos using private funds.  According to the President, there are approximately 60 existing lines that will be available for federally funded research.  The President=s decision, which alters the existing guidelines for stem cell research developed by the Clinton Administration, is viewed as a compromise between those who oppose all stem cell research and those who support expanded federal funding for such research.   

The President=s decision does not, in the view of the stem cell researchers and patients, go far enough, because it substantially limits opportunities for research on newly developed stem cell lines.  However, the President=s decision satisfies the primary goal of the stem cell advocates= lawsuit:  enabling swift progress on research in order to speed progress toward potential therapies for diseases that afflict millions of Americans.   

As a result, the stem cell researchers and patients have decided to dismiss their lawsuit voluntarily.  This dismissal does not preclude a new lawsuit to secure federal funding in the future.  Nor does this dismissal affect the status of a parallel lawsuit that was brought by opponents of stem cell research.  The stem cell researchers and patients have asked to intervene in that case, and if it goes forward, they plan to defend the legality of the President=s decision to fund limited research.

For more information contact Jeffrey C. Martin at 202-282-2011