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JUNE 2005

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.

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