Christopher Reeve Foundation: Stem Cell Research
By Michael Manganiello
I recently watched
25 children, members of a chorus, ranging in age from 5 to
15 singing, “Don’t Forget Us”.
They all suffered from juvenile diabetes. I was attending a
fundraiser for stem cell research being held by the juvenile
diabetes research foundation in Los Angeles. They were honoring
Dana, the wife of my late boss, Christopher Reeve. Dana was
receiving the JDRF’s “National Caregiver Award,” the
same award that Nancy Reagan received last year when she spoke
so eloquently and passionately about stem cell research.< They
played a tape of Mrs. Reagan from the event last year, and
I watched as Patty Reagan’s eyes filled with tears as
her mother spoke of her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s.
Dana received the award and spoke passionately about her love
for Chris and about his belief in the work that Californians
were advancing with the passage of Proposition 71, a ballot
initiative that would fund stem cell research with $3 billion
dollars. Finally they played a psa that Chris had recorded
just weeks before his death supporting the passage of Prop
71. Chris looked down on the entire room with his piercing
blue eyes and spoke of his belief in the idea that science
should not be confounded by politics and that politics and
ideology must not stand in the way of unfettered scientific
research. It was emotional evening, one filled with sadness,
remembrance and hope.
I have spent the past
five years educating Congress and the American public about
the truths and myths surrounding human embryonic stem cell
research. The truth is that embryonic stem cell research
offers hope to millions of Americans suffering from a myriad
of diseases and disabling conditions. The truth is that we
don’t know when these cures and interventions
will come, but we will NEVER know if we do not allow our scientists
to explore the possibilities. The truth is that most Americans,
whether Democrat or Republican; Christian, Jew or Muslim; believe
that stem cell research should be allowed to proceed in an
ethical and regulated way. The myth is that embryonic stem
cell research is somehow anti-life. The myth is that adult
stem cell research holds all of the answers. The myth is that
our scientists are immoral and unethical. The myth is that
human embryonic stem cell research offers false hope. There
is no such thing as false hope. There is only hope.
Our nation’s best minds and some of America’s
most trusted citizens have told us that the potential of the
human embryonic stem cell is potentially unlimited. The National
Academy of Science, the National Institutes of Health, Orrin
Hatch, Nancy Reagan, Christopher Reeve, Michael J. Fox and
patients and their caregivers all across this country believe
that we must move forward with this important research. My
hope, the hope of most Americans and the hope of my former
boss and friend, Christopher Reeve was that politicians not
stand in the way of promising cures and interventions. This
nation is at a crossroad. My fervent belief is that moderate
voices across this nation and particularly in Congress will
prevail. My hope is that the United States will take back the
mantle of leadership in the field of medical research and in
particular embryonic stem cell research and that this research
will go forward in a regulated and ethical manner. #
Michael Manganiello is Senior Vice President, Government
Relation with the Christopher Reeve Foundation.