Lifting restrictions on stem cell research

Dr. Lucin Brijn of The ALS Association
Lifting restrictions
on stem cell research
To the editor:
    President Barack Obama’s decision Monday to lift restrictions that havelimited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research will significantly aid the search for the causes and cure of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. While this decision will enable theALS research community to pursue new opportunities to find a treatment andcure, additional action by Congress is needed to build on the President’s Executive Order and allow federal funding to be used to create new stem cell lines and fully explore the possibilities of this innovative research.
   The ALS Association believes that stem cell research is a rapidly-evolving field that holds the potential to provide benefit to people with ALS in the future. The continuing pursuit of stem cell research with appropriate scientific review and ethical guidelines directly furthers the mission of The ALS Association in finding a cure for and improving living with ALS.
   The ALS Association directs and funds a range of stem cell research projects in the search for new discoveries and potential therapies for Lou Gehrig’s disease.
   The ALS Association is the only non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network ofchapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.
   For more information, please visit www.alsa.org.
Dr. Lucie Bruijn, senior vice president,
Research and Development
The ALS Association
Calabasas Hills
California