By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
Gov. Sam Brownback on Monday proposed using bioscience dollars to fund the startup and ongoing costs of the planned adult stem cell center at the Kansas University Medical Center.
Under Brownback's plan, $1.154 million would be diverted from the Kansas Bioscience Authority next year to create the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center and $754,500 per year to maintain the center after that.
The proposal was part of numerous spending adjustments Brownback has sent to the Legislature, which reconvenes May 8 to put together a budget during the wrapup session.
Last week, Brownback signed into law a measure establishing the adult stem cell center. KU did not ask for the bill, and legislators had failed to fund it.
The center is prohibited from using embryonic stem cells or cells taken from aborted fetal tissue. Abortion opponents, who supported the legislation, oppose human embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of the embryo.
Brownback said the center will put Kansas at the forefront of important research.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Creation of adult stem cell center at KU Med sent to Brownback for consideration
By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
The creation of an adult stem cell research and treatment center at Kansas University Medical Center requires only the signature of Gov. Sam Brownback, who has indicated he supports the venture.
The House and Senate on Friday sent the legislation to Brownback even though KU Med didn’t ask for the measure, and there is no funding in the proposal to start what would be called the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center.
The proposal was championed by abortion opponents who say that adult stem cell research has the potential to establish new cures and therapies.
The bill would prohibit the center from using embryonic stem cells or cells taken from aborted fetal tissue. Abortion opponents oppose human embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of the embryo.
But opponents of the bill said the startup of a research center requires a lengthy planning process that brings experts together before approaching the Legislature.
“The Legislature has no business inserting itself into this sort of operation at the Medical Center,” said Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka. “We have no qualifications to do this.”
The creation of an adult stem cell research and treatment center at Kansas University Medical Center requires only the signature of Gov. Sam Brownback, who has indicated he supports the venture.
The House and Senate on Friday sent the legislation to Brownback even though KU Med didn’t ask for the measure, and there is no funding in the proposal to start what would be called the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center.
The proposal was championed by abortion opponents who say that adult stem cell research has the potential to establish new cures and therapies.
The bill would prohibit the center from using embryonic stem cells or cells taken from aborted fetal tissue. Abortion opponents oppose human embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of the embryo.
But opponents of the bill said the startup of a research center requires a lengthy planning process that brings experts together before approaching the Legislature.
“The Legislature has no business inserting itself into this sort of operation at the Medical Center,” said Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka. “We have no qualifications to do this.”
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Measure would start stem cell research center at KU Med
By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
A bill pushed by abortion opponents that would require the Kansas University Medical Center to establish a center that focuses on adult stem cell research will be debated in the Senate on Thursday.
Senate Bill 199, which would create the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, was authored by 22 conservative Republican senators, including Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita, Majority Leader Terry Bruce of Hutchinson, and Public Health and Welfare Chairwoman Mary Pilcher-Cook of Shawnee.
"This has the potential of putting Kansas on the map in making actual patient therapies available," Pilcher-Cook said.
Gov. Sam Brownback also expressed support for the concept.
"Having an adult stem cell center is not only highly plausible, it's being done and used in many places around the world," he said.
"If Kansas could take a leadership position in that, it could be a highly useful thing for people to get treatments. There are number of different maladies now being treated by non-controversial stem cell treatments," he said. He added, "Let's see what develops in the process and in the bill."
A bill pushed by abortion opponents that would require the Kansas University Medical Center to establish a center that focuses on adult stem cell research will be debated in the Senate on Thursday.
Senate Bill 199, which would create the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, was authored by 22 conservative Republican senators, including Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita, Majority Leader Terry Bruce of Hutchinson, and Public Health and Welfare Chairwoman Mary Pilcher-Cook of Shawnee.
"This has the potential of putting Kansas on the map in making actual patient therapies available," Pilcher-Cook said.
Gov. Sam Brownback also expressed support for the concept.
"Having an adult stem cell center is not only highly plausible, it's being done and used in many places around the world," he said.
"If Kansas could take a leadership position in that, it could be a highly useful thing for people to get treatments. There are number of different maladies now being treated by non-controversial stem cell treatments," he said. He added, "Let's see what develops in the process and in the bill."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
