North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA IS well positioned to become a leader in stem cell research. The state's political establishment understands the importance of research for the growth of the state's educational and medical institutions in a competitive world. As early as 2005, the general assembly proposed that North Carolina become the first state in the southeastern United States to fund stem cell research, and thus join with states such as California and New Jersey in funding such endeavors. This proposal also included support for embryonic stem cell research, which is the most controversial aspect of the research.

The North Carolina General Assembly in 2006, through its Select Committee on Stem Cell Research, offered further research support, however, within the confines of ethical research guidelines. This approach in 2007 led to the Stem Cell Research Health and Wellness Act to Permit Stem Cell Research under Limited Circumstances and to Appropriate Funds to the Health and Wellness Trust Fund for Allocation as Stem Cell Research Grants. This legislation, which followed the 2006 Stem Cell Enhancement Act veto by President Bush, initially set aside a sum of $10 million to support stem cell research for 2007–08. However, even this modest level of funding remains problematic because of the pressures brought to bear by those who have severe reservations as to the ethical nature of embryonic research.

These reservations have meant that the North Carolina legislation comes with a number of [Page 391]restrictions that allow stem cells to be taken only from embryos drawn from ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and in vitro fertilization excesses. There are also prohibitions on reproductive cloning and possibly somatic cell nuclear transfer research; however, there is a lack of clarity on many of these points that confuses the overall research picture and its ultimate direction.

At the federal level, within the 110th Congress, North Carolina's Republican senators produced divided votes with regard to the Stem Cell Research Enactment Act of 2007 with Republican Senator Richard Burr voting for the legislation and Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole voting against the act in accordance with the administration's continuing position with regard to embryonic stem cell research. In the House, a similar mixed message was produced, with six votes for the legislation and seven against, with the Republican contingent generally voting against the proposition and the Democrats generally supporting the enhanced act. Of particular note, the previous North Carolina Senator John Edwards, during the 2004 election, when he was a vice presidential candidate, made it clear that a Kerry—Edwards administration would embrace stem cell funding to include embryonic stem cell research, and as a 2008 presidential candidate, Edwards maintained this position.

At present, most Democrats in Congress, and those in most state capitals, support embryonic stem cell research, but as an issue, the embryonic aspect of this research has split Republicans. Many politicians with conservative religious constituencies have maintained their distance from any research that involves embryos. However, some prominent Republicans, such as Nancy Reagan, whose husband, former Republican President Ronald Reagan, suffered from Alzheimer's disease, became a key supporter. Further, many national polls show that a majority of Americans have come to accept the need for funding stem cell research, including that using embryonic stem cells, and that this perhaps could in the short—term change the attitude of politicians who are worried about losing votes because of any perceived research support.

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