FROM: OMNIFAX TO: JUN 18, 1989

  

‘tTHE AMERICAN
“SOCIETY FOR

CELL

BIOLOGY

NATIONAL OFFICE: 9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Marylin 208 14.3992
TEL: 301/530-7153 FAX: 301/530-7139 [-MAIL: aschinfo@asch.org  www.asch.org/asch

February 23, 1999

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Rockefeller University
1230 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Dear Josh:

Many of you responded to the American Socicty for Cell Biology's request for
endorsement of the Society's position on human cloning. That support was extremely
influential in defeating Icgislation that would have compromised the progress of
biomedical research.

The controversy has now advanced to the question of human stem cell research. The
Department of Health & Human Services has ruled that research on derivative stem cells
by a scientist supported by the federal funds is permissible under the current legislative
ban on embryo rescarch. In response, 71 members of the House sent a letter to Health &
Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala challenging the ruling and proposing that stem
cel) research be prohibited under the embryo research ban.

The ASCB is seeking to persuade Congress and the Administration to acknowledge the
distinction between "embryo" and "stem cell" research and to explicitly cxempt stem cell
research from the prohibition on the use of federal funds to support embryo research.

ne ~.

To this end, we seek your fignature op the attached letter. Please return the enclosed
form as soon as possible bite tfaicr than Wednesday, March 3, at 12:00 noon Eastern
Standard Time.

Thank you for your continued and immediate considcration.

Sincerely yours,

Gud

Paul Berg, Ph.D.

Cahill Professor of Cancer Research

Director of the Beckman Center for Molecular & Genetic Medicine
Stanford University

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 1980

Chair, ASCB Public Policy Committee

Enclosures

1:16PM #042 P.@1

FER 25 9

OFFICERS

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MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF
TRE CELL

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