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Maria Galvan
Instructor Matt Moberly
Writing 10-18
12 December 2014
Federal Funding for Human Stem Cell Research
Abstract
In Federal Funding for Human Stem Cell Research I will propose that federal funding for
stem cell research must be done by explaining the benefits of stem cell research and why it
should be federally funded by discussing Proposition 71 and the research found with the help of
this proposition which lead to the finding of a new treatment and possible cure for sickle cell
disease. I will support my argument as to why stem cell research should be federally funded by
addressing the two biggest problems as to why stem cell research is not being accepted by the
public; religion and the price. My purpose is to persuade the reader through my research to
ultimately agree that federally funding stem cell research is the best way to go as opposed to
private funding.
Background
Human stem cells are cells that can develop into different types of specialized (i.e. skin,
blood, etc.) cells in the body. Through research, scientist have been able to better understand
how these stem cells can replace damaged cells in an ill patients body and therefore have
positive side effects. Stem cell research is conducted through the use of three types of stem cells,
embryotic stem cells (taken from an early embryo), somatic stem cells (adult stem cells found in
the tissue throughout our life), and induced pluripotent stem cells (reprogrammed adult stem

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cells to function as and resemble embryotic stem cells) (Claire Cox). The research conducted for
stem cells has shown grand results as well as promise for the future. On November 2, 2004
California voters took a chance on stem cell research and enacted proposition 71 (Prop 71). Prop
71 allowed 3 billion federally funded dollars to be used by the UC (University of California)
system to conduct human stem cell research through the course of a ten year period; the
proposition terminated this year (David Magnus).
With the enactment of Prop 71 researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) recently announced to the public of a new finding that can help with the control and
treatment of sickle cell disease and quite possibly cure it (Shaun Mason). Sickle cell disease is a
perfect example which shows the advancements of stem cell research. Sickle cell disease is a
blood cell disease which causes the human body to produce blood cells that are crescent shaped
as opposed to a circular shape; because of the new form that the blood cells take on, the blood
flow decreases and deprives the bodys organs of oxygen. Through the research conducted at
UCLA, researchers found that a patients own stem cells can be used to treat and quite possibly
cure sickle cell disease. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell
anemia affects 90,000 to 100,000 Americans (Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)), this is a good
portion of the US population. Not only is this new finding life changing for many but it also
reduces risk factors. Sickle cell disease is most commonly treated with donor stem cells,
however, this practice is very dangerous for the patient. There is a huge risk for the patients
immune system to be attacked by the donors stem cells and have deadly side effects-- unless the
patient takes anti-rejection medication, also known as immunosuppressant, and their body
accepts the medication (Anne Holden). Taking into account the deadly risk, only a very small
amount of patients have been treated with donor stem cells. Doctor John Tisdale states that side

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effects cause by immunosuppressants can endanger patients already weakened by years of organ
damage from sickle cell disease. (No Fear of Rejection?).
Problem
Proposition 71 terminated this year which means stem cell research will most likely not
be refunded by the state and/or government and is in danger of being discontinued. When prop
71 was enacted the plans for the future were hopeful, once the prop ended these ideas became
blurry; there has not been any clarification as to what the future holds for stem cell research now
that prop 71 came to an end. Due to termination of the prop, research will suffer. The promising
research that has been displayed thus far will not be improved and new research will be harder to
obtain without the availability of this much needed federal funding.
While many have suggested the reestablishment of proposition 71, it is not guaranteed
that the prop will pass a second time. There are several conflicts that get in the way of the
reestablishment of prop 71-- like religion. Religion influences many in their thought process
which in turn causes them to side with their religious view point. Many religions view stem cell
research as immoral because some forms of stem cell research require the usage of embryotic
stem cells; this type of research can only be done with the destruction of the embryo (Robert
Kuttner). Religious affiliation causes people to view stem cell research as inhumane because it is
seen only as the destruction of an embryo, as the destruction of a life. In August 2001, former
President George W. Bush refined stem cell research giving private funding the freedom to
continue any type of stem cell research to their choosing, the policy banned federal funding for
stem cell research (Kuttner). Kuttner states in his article, By disdaining public science in favor
of pandering to the religious right, Bush tacitly resolves the question in favor of the private
biotech industry. By this Kuttner meant that Bush was influenced by religion to limit stem cell

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research by taking away federal funding however, it has been shown that privately funding stem
cell research will only benefit those who can afford treatment by the privately funded stem cell
research. When the miracle cures come, they will be available only at astronomical costs to a
narrow public, the science will be needlessly balkanized, and the Medicare budget will take
another beating, stated Kuttner.
Another conflict interfering with the reestablishment of prop 71 is the lack of
acknowledgment that stem cell research is cheaper to conduct than it is to fund healthcare for
patients that can better their health through stem cell research. Let us take a closer look at the
cost for sickle cell disease. Annual fees to care for an adult patient with sickle cell disease is
$231,050.00 (Samir K. Ballas, 321), now if we multiple the cost per patient by the number of
affected Americans which is roughly around 100,000 Americans (Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)) we
get $23,105,000,000.00, finally we multiply this number by ten for the ten year period prop 71
was enacted for and get a total approximate cost of $231,050,000,000.00 to care for 100,000
patients with sickle cell disease for the next ten years. The cost to treat sickle cell disease patients
is very close to the cost to fund stem cell research in the state of California for ten years.
The termination of Proposition 71 has caused the end of state funded stem cell research in
California. As part of society, it is our job to seek the best for our societys future as well as our
own. Prop 71 was enacted to find new and more efficient forms of treatment for the ill, those
with sickle cell disease as well as a source to find a possible cure. Without this prop, new
research has slowed and with the lack of resources, new possibilities will make it much more
difficult to be improved and/or find new cures, practices, and products.

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Solution
Through the ten year period stem cell research was state funded, the future for stem cell
research was very promising. Due to the termination of prop 71, the research created and
obtained by stem cell research will receive a negative blow without the needed resources
available. As the United States continues to expand, with 1 birth per 8 seconds and 1 death per
12 seconds more humans are being born than those who pass away (U.S. and World Population
Clock) we must find new ways to keep our generation and future generations healthy.
While many consider stem cell research as immoral or believe it is too pricy and would
rather it be privately funded, I propose for stem cell research to be federally funded; stem cell
research needs to be federally funded. We need to educate the public about what stem cell
research really is and how federally funding stem cell research is far better than private funding.
We need to help the public acknowledge the benefits that come with stem cell research,
especially those who hold a religious background which takes up most of the U.S. population. In
this occasion, education is key to helping the public accept stem cell research and dividing
religion from scientific proof which will in turn reward us with the benefits of the future findings
through this type of research.
Religion will always be present there is no way of ridding this country of religion but, we
can segregate ones religious viewpoint from that of a scientific viewpoint by education. Former
President George W. Bush was said to have implemented the restraint on federally funded stem
cell research due to religion (Kuttner). He sought the easy way out by leaving the price for stem
cell research to be dealt with through private funds all while having the private funders deal with
religious groups judging them for funding stem cell research. If we keep running away from
dismissing religious viewpoints when it comes to stem cell research, we will never advance. We

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need to send out public messages showing what stem cell research is, how beneficial it can be,
and help those with religious affiliation take a chance on stem cell research by putting their
religion aside for a bit.
We need to inform and make known to the public that even though private funding for
stem cell research means that the funds do not come out of our salary it does not mean that this is
the most beneficial route to take for all. When we compare how much state money was put on
the line for stem cell research in the state of California to how much it would cost to provide
healthcare for ten years to adult sickle cell disease patients, the numbers are very close. There is
only a $68,950,000,000 gap between the two (Ballas, 321; Sickle Cell Disease). This gap is
easily eliminated with the addition of three more years to providing health care for adult sickle
cell disease patients (in thirteen years the cost to provide healthcare for the 100,000 patients
whom suffer from sickle cell disease reaches the price of $300,365,000,000 without including
inflation (SCD)). Instead of broad access and collaboration in the scientific community, stem
cell breakthroughs will be proprietary products, states Kuttner. If and when a new cure, product,
and/or treatment is discovered through privately funded stem cell research, it will be close to
impossible for those without the funds to access the new findings. Only 1% of the American
population is considered wealthy while the other 99% are either upper middle class, middle class,
lower class, or under the poverty line (15% of the U.S. population) (David Francis). Privately
funding stem cell research would only create hardship for lower economic classes by not being
able to afford whatever advances are made with privately funded stem cell research. Yes, it is
very expensive to fund stem cell research and those funds can be used for other beneficial things.
However, we are already using those funds to provide healthcare to patients that can quite
possibly be cured from sickle cell disease with the help of stem cell research. Let us keep in

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mind that in thirteen years the healthcare cost for sickle cell disease patients outweighs the cost
to fund prop 71 over the course of ten years. This is only one disease that is draining federal
funds, if we can eliminate this disease by continuing stem cell research and therefore, finding the
cure for sickle cell disease, in the long run stem cell research will pay for itself.
Although the end for proposition 71 came this year, the future for stem cell research is
promising with the help of federal funds. As humans we always strive for better ways to enhance
our way of living. Technology has grown at an astonishing rate in the course of the past fourteen
years, the acceptance of women and African Americans to take a role as part of the decision
makers for society has occurred, Americans have opened their arms to immigrants making this
country one of the biggest multiracial countries in the world (Andrea Stone), yet the acceptance
of stem cell research has yet to take effect. If we dont open ourselves up to new forms of
research, this country will remain at its stance with no new life changing advances in the health
department. It is our obligation to try and better our future generations lives as well as our own
when we age. We need to stop living in the present and think of what the future can hold for us
by not allowing our emotions manipulate our actions. By not being open minded to stem cell
research we are restricting those who can benefit from this practice, from being treated
Conclusion
Proposition 71 allowed for stem cell research to be federally funded. With the termination
of this proposition the ongoing debate on whether stem cell research should continue to be
federally funded continues and the reasons for why stem cell research should halt are still present
in the minds of many Americans. The U.S. loses money yearly on healthcare for patients that
could benefit from stem cell research. The continuation of federally funding stem cell research
could one day pay for itself by treating and quite possibly curing patients like patients with sickle

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cell disease. The most effective approach to these issues is to educate the American public and
those with a strong religious belief regarding stem cell research. Proving through research how
beneficial stem cell research can be regardless of any religious belief and to show that federal
funding is better than private funding for stem cell research. The acceptance of federally funded
stem cell research will pay for itself eventually by eliminating some healthcare costs and by the
overall health of our fellow citizens with the help of stem cell research. If, as a country, we do
not take a chance on stem cell research, we will continue to loose funds on healthcare, funds that
can be spared by the advances of stem cell research. Our loved ones will continue with illnesses
that can be possibly treated if not cured with stem cell research advances. The future is here, it is
time to become open minded and give stem cell research a chance on a greater scale than prop
71, by having stem cell research be federally funded.

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Works Cited
Ballas, Samir K. American Journal of HematologyVolume 84, Issue 6, Article First Published
Online: 24 APR 2009. The Cost of Health Care for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease. 24 Apr.
2009. Web. 02 Dec. 2014.
Cox, Claire, Austin Smith, Paolo Bianco, Ian Chambers, Allem Eaves, Traqi Enver, and Thomas
Graf. Stem Cell Research & Therapy: Types of Stem Cells and Their Current Uses.
EuroStemCell. EuroStemCell., 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
Data & Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, n.d., Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
Francis, David. Where Do You Fall in the American Economic Class System? US News. US
News RSS. N.p., 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 /Dec. 2014.
Holden, Anne. No Fear of Rejection? Partial Stem Cell Transplant Reverses Sickle Cell
Disease-even without Immunosuppressant Drugs. The Stem Cellar. N.p., 01 July 2014. Web. 16
Nov. 2014.
Kuttner, Robert. "Political Opposition to Stem-Cell Research Is Based on Religious
Beliefs."How Does Religion Influence Politics? Ed. James D. Torr. Detroit: Greenhaven Press,
2006. At Issue. Rpt. from "The Great Obfuscator." American Prospect 12 (10 Sept. 2001):
2. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Magnus, David. "Stem Cell Research: The California Experience." The Hastings Center
Report Jan.-Feb. 2006: 26+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.

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Mason, Shaun. UCLA Stem Cell Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Advances toward
Clinical Trials. UCLA Stem Cell Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Advances toward
Clinical Trials. UCLA Newsroom, 1 July 2013. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
Stone, Andrea. Multiracial American Population Grew Faster Than Single-Race Segment In
2010 Census. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 04 Dec. 2014.
United States Census Bureau. Population Clock. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014