SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to recent controversy over the validity of a paper by a renowned South Korean stem cell scientist in the June 2005 edition of Science magazine, the following statement was made by Susan DeLaurentis, President and CEO of the Alliance for Stem Cell Research:
“While the allegations surrounding Dr. Hwang’s research are being widely discussed, it is imperative that critics of stem cell research do not use this controversy as an excuse to dismiss the validity of stem cell science in general. This would be unreasonable and extremely damaging not only to the scientists involved, but also to the patients who stand to benefit from this research.”
“Strict guidelines have been put in place by regulatory agencies on state, national and international levels to ensure the safety, ethics and transparency of this vital area of research. The fact that Dr. Hwang is suspected of violating these guidelines should not reflect on the countless other scientists who are committed to working within them, or on the promising research that has resulted from their efforts.”
“Millions of patients and families who recognize stem cell research as a real hope for new treatments and cures understand, as we do, that this incident in no way diminishes that hope. Every day, legitimate progress continues to be made in the field of regenerative medicine -- progress that can and will cure diseases and save lives.”
About Susan DeLaurentis
Susan DeLaurentis is president and CEO of the Alliance for Stem Cell Research. She has been a strong patient advocate since 1988, when she and her friends Elizabeth Glaser and Susie Zeegen founded the Pediatric AIDS Foundation after Elizabeth and her two children were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The Foundation is now the national leader in identifying, preventing and conducting pediatric HIV/AIDS research.
About the Alliance for Stem Cell Research
The mission of the Alliance for Stem Cell Research is to advance the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine and to educate the public about its potential and progress. To learn more, visit www.afscr.org.
CONTACT
Jennifer Drake
(310) 826-8090/jdrake@afscr.org
Alliance for Stem Cell Research
CONTACT: Jennifer Drake of Alliance for Stem Cell Research,+1-310-826-8090, jdrake@afscr.org
Web site: http://www.afscr.org/
