June 7, 2004

Beckie McCleery (512) 585-3329

Judy Haley (713) 464-8707

First International Stem Cell Conference Honors Nancy Reagan, Tackles Tough Issues 
TAMR Recognizes Courage in Action

As flags fly at half-staff to honor a hero lost to degenerative disease, TAMR (Texans for Advancement of Medical Research), along with preeminent scientists and health advocacy representatives attending the First International Stem Cell Conference in California, praised the courage of the “other hero” of the Reagan family, Nancy Reagan, for her strong public support of stem cell research. In a recent speech, Mrs. Reagan spoke of the pain of watching disease slowly destroy the President’s body, and of her conviction that too much time has already been lost in this fight to save lives. “Her courage, as a Republican and a conservative, provides leadership for the ‘silent majority’ to break that silence,” said Beckie McCleery, President of TAMR and a speaker at the Conference. “We have already seen a number of Senators and Representatives, including Texas’ own Kay Bailey Hutchison, taking a public stand in support of stem cell research.”

With the U.S. National Institutes of Health now saying that expanding the policy will speed research, Congressional support for stem cell research is growing. In April, 206 Representatives sent a letter to President Bush encouraging him to expand the current stem cell policy, and many others sent separate letters of support for the research. The similar Senate letter is still being circulated and signed. TAMR Secretary Melinda Rose said, “We suggest President Bush honor President Reagan by expanding the current embryonic stem cell policy to include the 400,000 parent designated frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded, to be used for research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and a myriad of other diseases. What a legacy that would be for a true American hero!”

The International Stem Cell conference, held June 5-6 on the UC-Berkeley University Campus, was the first grassroots advocacy event of its kind. Over 300 attendees-health advocates from across the nation-heard all sides of the ethical debate about embryonic stem cells, and listened as scientists described the potential power of stem cells to repair and regenerate lost tissue. “Stem cell research, a completely new field of medicine, is the next ‘giant step for mankind,’” said TAMR President McCleery.

TAMR is composed of leading scientists, physicians, ethicists, health groups, and individuals who support biomedical research for the purpose of curing diseases and alleviating suffering. TAMR was created last legislative session in response to the threat to stem cell research in Texas. TAMR is helping to build a bi-partisan coalition within the Texas legislature that supports all types of stem cell research.