Governor Charlie Crist pledged last week to devote $20 million to stem-cell research. But like Bush's federal plan, the money's for adult stem-cell research only. Research using embryonic stem cells is still an extremely divisive issue, and Crist took the politically expedient route. From the Tallahassee Democrat:

Crist is attempting to sidestep the debate altogether. Limiting use of state money to adult stem cells from places like umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid, along with embryonic lines produced before 2001, appeases religious groups and a skeptical Florida Legislature alike.

According to Crist:

he was less interested in trying to make a ''political point'' by supporting embryonic research than getting Florida on the board for funding stem cell research.

''It may not be as far as some would like it to be,'' Crist said. ''But I think it's important to have a good first step, one that is successful.''

Dr. William Kerr,associate professor at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa spoke for many scientists across the state:

"We know there are limitations on adult stem cells. We haven't been able to overcome those,'' Kerr said. ''We view embryonic as a way to overcome those obstacles. That doesn't mean it's guaranteed . . . but if we don't experiment with them, we'll never know."

Regardless, researchers using stem cells in Florida say the money is desperately needed because federal research dollars have been basically capped for years.

Read the entire article here.

Labels: embryonic, Florida, stem cell, stem-cell