Human Cloning Foundation Welcomes WiCell Research Institute as Site for First National Stem Cell Bank

The Human Cloning Foundation (HCF) praised the National Institute of Health for selecting the WiCell Research Institute in the University of Wisconsin-Madison as the site for the first and only national stem cell research bank last month.

HCF spokesman David Madrigal said the university is one of the leading research institutes in the nation and among the pioneers in stem cell research in the country. "This is welcome news," said Madrigal.

Madrigal also praised the Institute of Health for granting WiCell a four-year $16-million grant to continue categorizing and distributing stem cell lines to researchers around the world. He noted that the grant would be a significant boost to stem cell research and that the university can now provide stem cell lines to other academic facilities for only $500 compared to $5,000 before the grant.

A recent Wisconsin survey said that 70% of local residents support the bank and "believe it to be a great contributor to the state's economy."

"This is welcome news for the stem cell research community," said Madrigal. "It brings us a step closer to the day when we can tap the vast potential of stem cell research to save countless lives around the world and make degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and many others a thing of the past."

Contact: Mr. David Madrigal
Spokesman, Human Cloning Foundation
www.humancloning.org
humancloning.david@gmail.com