KUMC Statement

University of Kansas: Position on Stem Cell Research

Medical science is ultimately in the business of hope, taking discoveries from the laboratory to the bedside, in order to improve the lives of families everywhere. Good science thrives in a supportive environment. At the University of Kansas in Lawrence and the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, we are committed to providing our researchers and physician-scientists with the resources they need to achieve the best results and to provide the best education to our students.

One of the cornerstones of the University of Kansas Medical Center's mission is the discovery of new knowledge in the quest for life-saving cures and preventive interventions. In order to fulfill our mission and serve those who depend on us for new therapies and cures, we have an obligation to explore research that holds much promise for profoundly easing human suffering. Accordingly, our researchers and health care providers believe the pursuit of therapeutic stem cell research provides the best hope for achieving dramatic progress in discovering new cures.

The University of Kansas Medical Center supports the following principles:

• As researchers, doctors, and nurses, our daily focus is to relieve human suffering, to both cure and prevent diseases and save lives.
• The pursuit of therapeutic stem cell research provides some of the best opportunities for achieving dramatic progress in discovering new cures for devastating diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
• All types of stem cell research should proceed with appropriate ethical and regulatory standards.
• We support a ban on human reproductive cloning, as do all reputable researchers.

We are hopeful that the results of stem cell research will enable us to bring a healthier, more productive life to the millions of people that suffer from devastating diseases and injuries.

We recognize and respect that there are many differing opinions on how research should be conducted on stem cells. This robust discussion is a reflection of one of the core values of our country: the open exchange of many points of view. We welcome the opportunity to offer educational resources that lead to well-informed decisions. The Medical Center has established a Web site, www.kumc.edu/stemcell, with frequently asked questions and links to other sites, such as the National Institutes of Health.

Just as a large majority of Americans and Kansans believe stem cell research holds much promise and should be pursued, the University of Kansas Medical Center fosters the spirit of discovery that fuels scientific advancement in our nation. Such advancement has led to past medical breakthroughs, such as a polio vaccine and organ transplants, saving many lives. Each day at the medical center, we are committed to pursuing equally promising treatments and cures.