FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: Julie Kimbrough, 646-734-6091
Maggie
Goldberg, 973-379-2690
April 26, 2002
Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
Applauds HHS and NIH on Important Stem Cell Research
Grants
Grants will help speed the path to making embryonic
stem cell lines available to researchers
Washington, DC - The
Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) today
applauded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) announcement that they will
provide grants for four resource infrastructure enhancement awards
for human embryonic stem cell research. According to the NIH, these
awards, totaling $3.5 million over two years will be provided to
Cellsaurus, ES Cell International, University of California, and the
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
"We are very pleased to hear about the infrastructure awards as
they will play a significant role in putting these vital tools into
the hands of researchers. This can only help speed research progress
and further advance the development of therapies and cures for the
benefit of patients," said Michael Manganiello, President of CAMR,
the group which led the advocacy efforts to allow federal funding of
embryonic stem cell research to move forward.
"The infrastructure awards are one very important step of many
needed to fully implement the President's policy and we look forward
to working with the Administration on strategies to help researchers
have access to stem cell lines and receive more federal grants. And
we thank Secretary Tommy Thompson for his leadership in overseeing
this important process," added Manganiello.
The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR),
is comprised of nationally-recognized patient organizations,
universities, scientific societies, foundations, and individuals
with life-threatening illnesses and disorders, advocating for the
advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in
regenerative medicine - including stem cell research and somatic
cell nuclear transfer - in order to cure disease and alleviate
suffering. For more information, please visit
www.camradvocacy.org.