Human Cloning Foundation Praises Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

The Human Cloning Foundation (HCF) has praised the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures for their plan to launch an advocacy organization whose aim will be to oppose attempts to restrict stem cell research and raise its awareness in Kansas.

"The coalition's main objective is (to ensure) that any stem-cell research, therapy or cure that is legal on the federal level should be legal in Kansas," Lori Huffles, executive director of the Kansas Coalition, told the Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar).

The Kansas group already has drawn interest from more than 240 patient-advocacy groups, businesses and civic leaders, Huffles told the Star as she revealed plans to undertake a formal launch in the coming weeks.

The Star said the Kansas Coalition will focus on opposing measures such as the one introduced recently in the Kansas House of Representatives that would prohibit a form of stem cell research known as somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Huffles told The Star that the bill is also objectionable because it would restrict the ability of Kansans to obtain future treatments developed through somatic cell nuclear transfer.

"We hope that the diligence of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures can push Kansas to march in time with the national pulse which indicates that most Americans support the development of stem cell research," said David Madrigal, HCF spokesman.

Madrigal cited a recent John Hopkins University survey (2,212 people) showing that 67% either approve or strongly approve of stem cell research and that 40% would expand government support for embryonic stem cell research, including federal financing to create new stem cell lines.

The survey said only 16% would ban all research using embryonic stem cells and only 22% support the US government's restrictive policy on stem cell research.

Contact: David Madrigal
Human Cloning Foundation
HumanCloning.David@gmail.com
www.humancloning.org