BIO Commends NIH on New Stem Cell Research Guidelines

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, July 07, 2009) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization released the following statement in response to the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) final guidelines on federal funding of stem cell research, which includes embryonic stem cell research. The new guidelines go into effect today. 

These comments can be attributed to Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. 

“We commend the NIH for recognizing the importance of stem cell research to develop innovative biotechnology medicines to treat and cure debilitating and life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, Parkinson’s and spinal cord injuries.

“These guidelines allow for federal funding to support this research, which is critical for enabling biotechnology companies to continue to aggressively develop innovative products that are so desperately needed by patients.  We believe that research on both adult and embryonic stem cells holds great promise to produce new therapies and possibly cures for the millions of patients in the U.S. and around the world suffering from cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries and other life-threatening diseases and conditions.

“We applaud President Obama for taking the first major step by issuing an Executive Order on March 9^th overturning restrictions placed on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to develop public policies that enable our industry to turn the hope of basic research to the reality of cures and advanced therapies.”

The guidelines can be viewed at http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009guidelines.htm.

Upcoming BIO Events

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada 

BIO Investor Forum
October 28-29, 2009
San Francisco, CA

Advanced Business Development Course
October 30, 2009
Vienna, Austria

BIO Europe International Partnering Conference
November 2-4, 2009
Vienna, Austria

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
November 8-11, 2009
Honolulu, HI 

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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