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SIUC to set up stem cell research facility

BY CALEB HALE, THE SOUTHERN

Thursday, August 17, 2006 11:20 PM CDT

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's announcement of $5 million for stem cell research in Illinois universities may have had higher education officials singing his praises Thursday, but several Southern Illinois lawmakers said the governor slipped one by them in freeing up money for the controversial study at all.

Seven state public universities, including Southern Illinois University Carbondale's School of Medicine, will share the $5 million to begin or continue use stem cell research in seeking cures for diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's, Blagojevich said during a press conference held at the University of Illinois-Chicago Thursday.

SIUC will get $1.1 million to apply the technology learned to various chronic afflictions and to set up a stem cell core facility on the Carbondale campus in the Life Science III building.

The executive award flies in the face of President George W. Bush, who last month vetoed a federal bill that would have expanded stem cell research. The subject was also held up earlier this year in the Illinois General Assembly, with many legislators expressing reservations against the practice.

Blagojevich seemed quick to point fingers in his statements at the press conference.

"It's clear we can't count on the president to support stem cell research, and lawmakers in Springfield have yet to act on a proposal that would provide $100 million over five years for research," the governor stated. "So we are doing what we can with the resources we have to fund stem cell research."

Funding for the research comes from an administrative line Blagojevich had set aside within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services' budget to fund stem cell studies. The problem, as several local legislators pointed out when asked Thursday, was they didn't know about the line item in the budget when they voted to approve it.

"If you voted for the budget you voted for stem cell research, and they didn't know that," Republican State Sen. David Luechtefeld of Okawville said.

He added many Democrats were unaware the governor intended to use some of the money to hand out for stem cell research activity. Luechtefeld chided Blagojevich for "sidestepping the general assembly" to do what he thinks will help him politically.

Democratic State Sen. Gary Forby of Benton admitted he knew nothing of the $5 million for stem cell research when he approved the 2007 fiscal year budget. Forby spoke against funding the activity when the matter came to Springfield. He added he's not happy Blagojevich didn't clarify what the money was going to be used for.

"He wasn't up straight with the budget on this," Forby said.

Fellow Democrat legislator, State Rep. Brandon Phelps, agreed and said a decision on the state funding the research should have waited until the general assembly took an official vote on it.

For Phelps, who was endorsed Wednesday by two pro-life groups in his bid for re-election, not only does he disagree with the idea of embryonic stem cell research, he sees other facets of the state that need money more urgently.

"There are other places we needed the money," Phelps said. "We could put more money for staffing levels at some of these facilities?.we could put it in for coal mining; we could have put it into education."

SIU President Glenn Poshard said he's had some of the same social concerns about stem cell research the legislators expressed but noted the scientific community seems to think the study holds promise for curing serious diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's. That is something Poshard said he can't ignore.

"I don't fault anyone for their position on this, but when you've got two great research universities with medical schools (U of I and SIU) and (the state) is offering us a chance to be part of solving these medical problems, we have to step up to the plate," he said. Poshard was present at Thursday's announcement in Chicago.

Stuart Adler, M.D., an associate professor of physiology, said there are legitimate differences in opinion on the subject and discussion should take place. However, he said in the public arena about half of the population supports stem cell research as a measure to find cures for disease that affect them and their families.

"Much of the progress that could have been made already has been inhibited somewhat by the federal rules against stem cell research in place," Adler said.

With a good deal of hope and hype in the air, Adler said he thinks the research made possible through the $5 million will make some headway in determining just how much stem cell study can contribute toward harmful diseases.

Blagojevich spokesman Gerardo Cardenas said the governor's pro-stem cell research stance is nothing new and said he has been frustrated by the lack of action taken on the issue at the state and federal level.

"The governor is using his power to do something that he is strongly convinced will help save lives," Cardenas said.

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com

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