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LINCOLN — Opponents of human embryonic stem cell research Wednesday delivered nearly 6,900 petition signatures opposing expansion of the research.
Opponents also delivered to the Board of Regents a letter signed by 255 Nebraska doctors, researchers and medical professionals urging the regents to vote against expanded research, according to Chip Maxwell, executive director of the Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research.
Friday, the board is to consider a resolution that would limit research to existing lines of stem cells approved under the administration of former President George W. Bush.
Research supporters have said that would squelch most new research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
“This is not unexpected, but to put this in perspective, the petition signatures represent one half of one percent of the voting age population in Nebraska. There has never been any question that there are many people in the state of Nebraska who have strong feelings on this issue,” said Victoria Kohout, executive director of the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.
Nebraska anti-abortion groups have been urging the regents to act on the issue since the Obama administration adopted new guidelines to allow more stem cell lines to be approved for federally funded research.
Since 2001, NU policy has been to follow federal research guidelines.
Maxwell said the letter should reassure the regents that Nebraska can be on the forefront of research without relying on cells from destroyed embryos.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9581, leslie.reed@owh.com
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