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Thursday, June 24, 2004

CAMR Letter to President Bush

Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
2021 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 2006
202.833.0355

June 23, 2004

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush,

We write on behalf of U.S. patients, advocates, caregivers, academic
institutions, scientists and researchers to request that you expand the
current federal policy regarding human embryonic stem cell research.

Embryonic stem cells stand as a crucial link to the scientific puzzle
that may mitigate the pain and suffering of more than 100 million
Americans and provide new therapies and other scientific opportunities
for countless diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS,
heart disease, spinal cord injury and cancer.

The Administration's policy on embryonic stem cell research was met with
great hope and excitement, as we all recognized the thought and
diligence with which you approached your decision. The controls you
established allowed critical research to move forward while staying
within the moral and ethical boundaries that you deemed appropriate.

Since the current policy went into effect almost three years ago,
numerous developments have emerged that demand a reassessment of this
policy. When the policy was announced on August 9, 2001, the
Administration believed more than 60 embryonic stem cell lines were
available for research. Today, estimates from the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) show the number of available lines at only 19, well
short of what the policy intended.

Most all of the scientific community agrees that for the full potential
of embryonic stem cell research to be reached, the number of stem cell
lines readily available to scientists must increase. On May 14, 2004,
NIH Director Elias Zerhouni wrote to members of Congress that "more
cell lines may well speed some areas of research."

Mr. President, now is the time to update the current policy. For those
of us with a personal stake in the possibilities of embryonic stem cell
research, this really is a race against time. In the past three years,
more than 4 million Americans have died from diseases that embryonic
stem cells have the potential to treat.

We recognize your strong support of medical research and your clear
desire to help the millions of Americans suffering from disease. We
urge you today to continue this commitment by expanding the sope of the
current federal policy on human embryonic stem cell research.

Sincerely,

Alliance for Aging Research
Alpha-1 Association, Alpha-1 Foundation
The ALS Association
The Alzheimer's Association
American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery
American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress ofNeurological Surgeons
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Diabetes Association
American Federation for Medical Research
American Gastroenterological Association
American Liver Foundation
American Medical Association
American Pediatric Society
The American Physiological Society
Americans for Medical Progress
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
American Society for Cell Biology
American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Society for Virology
American Society of Hematology
American Thyroid Association
Appalachian State University
Arthritis Foundation
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of American Universities
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Independent Research Institutes
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of Professors of Medicine
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Association of Subspecialty Professors
Axion Research Foundation
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Boston University, Boston University School of Medicine, BostonUniversity School of Dental Medicine
Brain Tumor Action Network
Brain Tumor Society
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
California Institute of Technology
Californians for Cure
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Neurobiological Solutions Foundation
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
The Civil Society Institute
Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups
Columbia University Medical Center
Committee for the Advancement of Stem Cell Research
Cornell University
Coriell Institute for Medical Research
Council of Scientific Society Presidents
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
The Daniel Heumann Fund
Duke University Medical Center
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Endocrine Society
FASEB (Center for Genome Research)
The Forsyth Institute
Genetic Alliance
Genetic Society of America
Genetics Policy Institute
The Gerontological Society of America
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
Hereditary Disease Foundation
The Implementation Group, Inc.
International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery
The International Myeloma Foundation
International Society for Stem Cell Research
Jeffrey Modell Foundation
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
The Joint Steering Committee for Public Policy
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
Lupus Foundation of America
Lymphatic Research Foundation
Magee - Womens Hospital of VPMC, Magee-Womens Research Institute
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
Medical College of Wisconsin
The Mount Sinai Medical Center
National Alopecia Areatea Foundation
National Association for Biomedical Research
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs
National Center for Policy Research for Women & Families
National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR)
National Eczema Association for Science and Education
National Health Council
New York University School of Medicine
North American Brain Tumor Association
North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Parkinson's Action Network
Project A.L.S.
Prostate Cancer Foundation
PXE International
Quest for the Cure
Research!America
Research and Education Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Resolve: The National Infertility Association
Rett Syndrome Research Foundation
San Gorgonio Corporation
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Society for Neuroscience
Society for Pediatric Research
Society of Women's Health Research
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stem Cell Action Network
Stem Cell Research Foundation
Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation
Stony Brook University
Student Society for Stem Cell Research
Texans for the Advancement of Medical Research
Tourette Syndrome Association
University of California System
University of Chicago
University of Colorado
University of Florida Health Science Center
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Washington University in St. Louis
WiCell Research Institute
Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research & Education

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