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"For the past eight years, Americans of all backgrounds have stood together in opposition to a restrictive policy that put politics ahead of science and delayed the potential breakthrough discoveries that could forever change how we treat diseases. Today, thanks to the action taken by President Obama, we stand in triumph. By signing an Executive Order that calls for funding and appropriate ethical oversight for embryonic stem cell research, President Obama has ensured that Americans are no longer forced to look back at what could have been, but can instead look forward to one day seeing the promise of scientific and medical research fulfilled.
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"President Obama has replaced eight years of frustration with a renewed sense of hope and optimism for the 100 million Americans suffering from cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and other debilitating diseases and disorders.
"Nearly three-quarters of Americans, the majority of both the House and the Senate, and now the President of the United States support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
"With so many pressing domestic and world policy issues on the agenda, we are proud of the President's action, and are thankful he chose to stand up for the health, hope and well being of millions of Americans, their families, friends, and caregivers, in making this Executive Order a priority this early in his administration.
"We look forward to working with the 111th Congress and HHS and NIH leadership to continue to move this issue forward, and ensure America's researchers are able to pursue embryonic stem cell research with appropriate ethical guidelines and oversight."
The following may be attributed to Michael J. Fox, founder and chairman, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research:
"Today is a new day. I could not be more thrilled to see President Obama live up to his commitment to get politics out of science. We have seen, for the past eight years, how much damage the opposite approach has done to science and patients. Now that the President has taken this critical action, I am excited by the prospect of American scientists carrying human embryonic stem cell research forward toward better treatments and cures that will affect countless millions of lives.
"I commend the President for recognizing the inherent value of scientific freedom, and for helping to create an environment in which it can flourish."
SOURCE Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
