Stem Cell Research and Innovation

Here are some quotes from the Science Journal column from Friday's Wall Street Journal, not exactly known for its espousal of liberal causes.

• "'..cutting-edge scientists are leaving because they can't do research here as a result of strict limits on human embryonic stem-cell studies. This overlay of values onto research is a very alarming development." Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• "Countries that never had a tradition of cutting-edge biomedical research now have an entree as a result of US stem-cell policy. Americans are at a disadvantage in not having the opportunity to develop the technical know-how." Evan Snyder of the Burmham Institute, a leader in stem-cell research.
• "This anti-scientism couldn't be more damaging to young people contemplating devoting their life to research. The sense of opportunity that was always predominant in the US now lies elsewhere." Ira Black, stem-cell researcher.
• "..the US will no longer be dominant in innovation. A larger number of international patents are being obtained overseas, R&D facilities are moving overseas. If we are not innovating here, the economic benefits will go elsewhere, too." G. Wayne Vlough, president of Georgia Institute of Technology.

Now you could argue that all of the above have an ax to grind, as they are in the stem-cell business in one way or another. But listen to Sharon Begley, the person who writes Science Journal for the Wall Street Journal, "Allowing a minority opinion to stifle research is only one symptom of politics undermining science.Some appointees to federal scientific advisory panels have been chosen for their ideology rather than their expertise; staffers with no research credentials alter the scientific (not only the policy) content of reports on climate change. Politicians' attacks on the science of evolution continue, even though "intelligent design" may make a fascinating lesson for a philosophy class, but it is not biology."

And you wonder why the number of US scientific papers is down, why we have fewer graduates in the sciences, why fewer and fewer scientific breakthroughs come from here!