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Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
For more information contact:
Sean Tipton, w: 202-863-2494 c: 202-421-5112, stipton@asrm-dc.org
Julie Kimbrough, w: 203-438-8211, c: 646-734-6091, juliekimbrough@earthlink.net
Patient Groups, Scientists, Advocates Hold National
“Call the White House Day” to Urge President to Support Historic Stem Cell Legislation
Washington, DC—August 8, 2005—On Tuesday, August 9th, patients, universities, and scientific societies across America will mark the fourth anniversary of President Bush’s fateful decision to severely restrict embryonic stem cell research. The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), comprised of over 95 nationally-recognized patient groups, scientific societies and academic institutions, will commemorate the anniversary with a national “Call the White House Day” to urge President Bush to join Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) and other bipartisan Members of Congress in supporting H.R. 810, the historic stem cell legislation which passed the House in May and is now expected to pass the Senate this fall.
“After four very long years, thousands of meetings with Members of Congress, a multitude of press conferences, town hall meetings, patient calls and letters, we are finally at a point where real change not only seems possible, but probable,” said Daniel Perry, President of CAMR. “On August 9th, advocates from throughout the nation will call the White House and urge President Bush to support a change in the current stem cell policy and allow this research to flourish in the U.S.,” he added.
Specifically, advocates will ask that President Bush lend his support to H.R. 810, which would change the current federal stem cell policy to allow federally supported scientists to study additional stem cell lines, expand research among America's top academic researchers and accelerate the cure and treatment of diseases. H.R. 810 imposes ethical and legal regulations on the research even as it expands Federal research of additional stem cell lines from voluntarily donated in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos that will otherwise be discarded.
“We hope to never mark August 9th again as the day when embryonic stem cell research made a screeching halt in the U.S. while other countries passed us by. We hope to never look another patient in the eye again and say to not give up hope, even though it looks hopeless,” said Mr. Perry. “The President has a chance now to join millions of Americans in supporting research that has real potential to cure disease and save lives. We urge him to take this chance and not stand in the way of scientific progress any longer,” he added.
The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), the leading pro-cures coalition, 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 on CAMR, visit the website: www.camradvocacy.org
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