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Stem Cells: Catholic Grant for Adult Cell Research Cell
ANSA - English Media Service
26 July 2005
(ANSA) - SYDNEY, July 26 - The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said on Tuesday it would grant 100,000 Australian dollars (about 60,000 euro) towards research on the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, said that recent progress achieved in the research on adult stem cells was "exciting and impressive."
"The achievements to date in this area far surpass anything that has been attained in the area of embryonic stem cell research," Cardinal Pell said.
"The Catholic Church always supports good science working from a good ethical foundation, and the Archdiocese of Sydney is delighted to be able to collaborate with researchers making inroads in this vitally important area," he added recalling the fact that the Church is opposing research on cells taken from human embryos but supports in principle the use of adult cells.
In late 2002 Australia's parliament approved legislation allowing the use of surplus embryos from assisted fertilisation programmes for stem cell research.
According to the large majority of Australia's scientific community the legislation on the use of embryos for research opens the way towards discovering treatments for diseases like Parkinson's disease or diabetes as well as for genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis.
According to the Catholic Church, however, the use of surplus embryos for scientific research constitutes wanton destruction of life.
The funding announced on Tuesday is the second one granted by the Sydney Archdiocese for promoting research on adult stem cells.
A team of the Griffith University in Brisbane has received a grant worth 50,000 Australian dollars (about 30,000 euro) for the development of therapies to utilise stem cells extracted from patients' nasal lining. (ANSA). KP/krc
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