WHITE HOUSE FACTSHEET
                       EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH
                              August 9, 2001




"As a result of private research, more than 60 genetically diverse stem
cell lines already exist" I have concluded that we should allow federal
funds to be used for research on these existing stem cell lines " where the
life and death decision has already been made",  This allows us to explore
the promise and potential of stem cell research" without crossing a
fundamental moral line by providing taxpayer funding that would sanction or
encourage further destruction of human embryos that have at least the
potential for life."
-- George W. Bush


    Federal funding of research using existing embryonic stem cell lines
is consistent with the President?s belief in the fundamental value and
sanctity of human life.   The President?s decision reflects his fundamental
commitment to preserving the value and sanctity of human life and his
desire to promote vital medical research. The President?s decision will
permit federal funding of research using the more than 60 existing stem
cell lines that have already been derived, but will not sanction or
encourage the destruction of additional human embryos. The embryos from
which the existing stem cell lines were created have already been destroyed
and no longer have the possibility of further development as human beings.
Federal funding of medical research on these existing stem cell lines will
promote the sanctity of life " without undermining it " and will allow
scientists to explore the potential of this research to benefit the lives
of millions of people who suffer from life destroying diseases.

    Federal funds will only be used for research on existing stem cell
lines that were derived: (1) with the informed consent of the donors; (2)
from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes; and (3)
without any financial inducements to the donors.  In order to ensure that
federal funds are used to support only stem cell research that is
scientifically sound, legal, and ethical, the NIH will examine the
derivation of all existing stem cell lines and create a registry of those
lines that satisfy this criteria.  More than 60 existing stem cell lines
from genetically diverse populations around the world are expected to be
available for federally-funded research.

   No federal funds will be used for: (1) the derivation or use of stem
cell lines derived from newly destroyed embryos; (2) the creation of any
human embryos for research purposes; or (3) the cloning of human embryos
for any purpose.  Today?s decision relates only to the use of federal funds
for research on existing stem cell lines derived in accordance with the
criteria set forth above.

    The President will create a new President?s Council on Bioethics,
chaired by Dr. Leon Kass, an expert in biomedical ethics and a professor at
the University of Chicago, to study the human and moral ramifications of
developments in biomedical and behaviorial science and technology.  The
Council will study such issues as embryo and stem cell research, assisted
reproduction, cloning, genetic screening, gene therapy, euthanasia,
psychoactive drugs, and brain implants.



                                BACKGROUND

   Embryonic stem cells.  Embryonic stem cells, which come from the inner
cell mass of a human embryo, have the potential to develop into all or
nearly all of the tissues in the body.  The scientific term for this
characteristic is "pluripotentiality."

    Adult stem cells.  Adult stem cells are unspecialized, can renew
themselves, and can become specialized to yield all of the cell types of
the tissue from which they originate.  Although scientists believe that
some adult stem cells from one tissue can develop into cells of another
tissue, no adult stem cell has been shown in culture to be pluripotent.

    The potential of embryonic stem cell research.  Many scientists
believe that embryonic stem cell research may eventually lead to therapies
that could be used to treat diseases that afflict approximately 128 million
Americans.  Treatments may include replacing destroyed dopamine-secreting
neurons in a Parkinson?s patient?s brain; transplanting insulin-producing
pancreatic beta cells in diabetic patients; and infusing cardiac muscle
cells in a heart damaged by myocardial infarction.  Embryonic stem cells
may also be used to understand basic biology and to evaluate the safety and
efficacy of new medicines.

    The creation of embryonic stem cells.  To create embryonic stem cells
for research, a "stem cell line" must be created from the inner cell mass
of a week-old embryo.  If they are cultured properly, embryonic stem cells
can grow and divide indefinitely.  A stem cell line is a mass of cells
descended from the original, sharing its genetic characteristics.  Batches
of cells can then be separated from the cell line and distributed to
researchers.

    The origin of embryonic stem cells.  Embryonic stem cells are derived
from excess embryos created in the course of infertility treatment.  As a
result of standard in vitro fertilization practices, many excess human
embryos are created.  Participants in IVF treatment must ultimately decide
the disposition of these excess embryos, and many individuals have donated
their excess embryos for research purposes.

   Existing stem cell lines. There are currently more than 60 existing
different human embryonic stem cell lines that have been developed from
excess embryos created for in vitro fertilization with the consent of the
donors and without financial inducement.  These existing lines are used in
approximately one dozen laboratories around the world (in the United
States, Australia, India, Israel, and Sweden).

    Therapies from adult and embryonic stem cell research.  To date, adult
stem cell research, which is federally-funded, has resulted in the
development of a variety of therapeutic treatments for diseases.  Although
embryonic stem cell research has not yet produced similar results, many
scientists believe embryonic stem cell research holds  promise over time
because of the capacity of embryonic stem cells to develop into any tissue
in the human body.