Stem-cell order makes no sense

Facts about ESC (embryonic stem cell) research:

Over 70 diseases and conditions have been successfully treated using adult stem cells (juvenile diabetes and heart disease, to name two).

Very recently, researchers had a breakthrough in treating Parkinson’s disease using adult stem cells.

ESC successes are minimal not because there has been no federal money behind it. Private, commercial and some states have invested money in this area of research with little results. Many who have invested in ESC are seeing it as an expensive failure.

Dr. James Thomson, one of the pioneers in ESC research, is not using embryos at all, but has switched to induced pluripotent cells (iPC).

It is estimated that successes in ESC are not expected until 2011 or 2012, even with the new federal funding. There are not guarantees of success.

Doesn’t it make sense to fund areas of research that have already been proven successful and to apply that research to benefit people right now? We don’t need to nor should we be sacrificing embryos.

President Obama’s executive order makes no sense. Quit ignoring adult stem cell research.

William B. Stromberger

Edwall, Wash.