Bill could strictly regulate stem cell research

MSU researchers are concerned regulations on embryonic stem cell research proposed in a Michigan Senate Committee would interfere with their progress.

Although Proposal 2 was passed last November and eased restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, bills proposed last week in the Senate Health Policy Committee would create penalties and stricter regulations on violations of Proposal 2, said state Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, chair of the Health Policy Committee.

“The voters adopted a measure that allows embryonic stem cell research,” George said. “There are certain areas that need to be filled in. If you don’t (clarify), then there is confusion and because this is such a hotly debated issue, I think confusion complicates things for the public, for potential donors and for researchers.”

The package of six bills would establish reporting requirements for researchers who use embryonic stem cells, clarify the language used in Proposal 2 and establish penalties when regulations are violated. George said Proposal 2 is too vague and the bills would define what was passed by the voters.

Leonard Fleck, an MSU professor of philosophy and medical ethics, said the proposed bills would ensure only embryonic stem cells that are excess from in vitro fertilization are used for research. But in later stages of research, leftover embryos might not be sufficient for progress, he said.

“The first bit of research can be done with leftover embryos,” he said. “But the next stage in the research, five or 10 years from now, that research would require stem cells that were matches to the individual that would be beneficiary of that work.”

MSU professor James Trosko was the first researcher to isolate a human adult stem cell in 1987 and still works with adult stem cells at the university. Trosko said the main difference between using adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells is adult stem cells come from consenting adults.

However, embryonic stem cells can be used to create virtually any cell in the human body, while adult stem cells are limited by their tissue of origin, Trosko said. But regulating the use of either type of stem cell could threaten research, he said.

“Basically, stem cell research, whether it is embryonic or adult, could in principle change the whole course of medicine for the future,” he said. “To block stem cell research would be like wanting to stay in a state of ignorance.”

George said his bills do not completely block embryonic stem research, they eliminate “ambiguity” in the law and create regulations.

State Sen. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, said the Food and Drug Administration already regulates researchers and these bills are unnecessary.

“I am sort of angry that we have over two million people that voted for lifting the ban on stem cell research in Michigan — the people in Michigan spoke very loudly and clearly that we wanted to do this,” Jacobs said. “Now we have people that I feel are trying to undercut the progress we are making in the state.”

The Health Policy Committee is working with researchers and will incorporate their input into the bills, George said. The bills will move to the Senate floor next month for a vote.

“Scientists are ordinary people, and to ascribe evil motives to all scientists, just trying to understand how nature works, is wrong,” Trosko said. “Those who want to impose restrictions on research don’t realize (the) negative consequences. I’m not saying there should not be self-reflection on what we as scientists do. I don’t think any scientists are using stem cell research for evil purposes.”