Human Cloning Foundation Praises Baltimore Mayor for Supporting Stem Cell Research

The Human Cloning Foundation today praised Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley for pushing for state funding of stem cell research.

The Associated Press said Mayor O'Malley made the comments last week and quoted the Democratic gubernatorial candidate as saying that "we must move forward to promote stem cell research that will find cures for diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and juvenile diabetes."

According to AP, Mayor O'Malley also decried the fact that Baltimore has fallen behind states like California and Massachusetts in enacting legislation that will provide funds for stem cell research, "despite having leading institutions like John Hopkins University, the National Institute of Health and the University of Maryland."

Henry Eawell, a spokesman for Baltimore Governor Robert Ehrlich, told AP that the governor is also committed to supporting stem cell research and "is considering ways right now to empower the Maryland medical community to research potentially life saving medicines," but that there is "considerable debate underway if funding and regulation are best done at the state or federal level." Eawell told AP that the governor has not taken a position on whether he would support state funding for stem cell research at the 2006 legislative season.

Supporters of stem cell research in Baltimore are already trying to build support for bills they will introduce in January to provide aid to research institutions, AP reported.

Contact: Mr. David Madrigal
Spokesman, Human Cloning Foundation
www.humancloning.org