Good News!

Pres. Barack Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells. In an article by Associated Press it states:

"It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda — and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology," Obama said.

Researchers said the new president's message was clear: Science, which once propelled men to the moon, again matters in American life.

The most immediate effect will allow federally funded researchers to use hundreds of new embryonic stem cell lines for promising, but still long-range research in hopes of creating better treatments, possibly even cures, for conditions ranging from diabetes to paralysis. Until now, those researchers had to limit themselves to just 21 stem cell lines created before August 2001, when President George W. Bush limited funding because of "fundamental questions about the beginnings of life and the ends of science."

This is good news for the spinal cord injury community. They have been trying to get funding for research for the past eight years now and it is finally happening. This is still a very touchy subject for many people and very controversial. However, with hope of someday finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and many other conditions, this is a big step for many involved.

Jenni