Hatch urges state role in stem cell research

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch told state House members Tuesday that Utah can't afford to fall behind other states in embryonic stem cell research.

Knowing he was addressing some Republicans "who disagree with me," Hatch, R-Utah, said he had studied the issue for a year, talked to all kinds of experts, for and against it, before taking a stand that was later opposed by GOP President Bush.

Hatch said that the University of Utah (and the Huntsman Cancer Institute) had some of the leaders in stem cell research.

Utah State University and Brigham Young University, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also are doing important work in the area, Hatch said.

"We can't afford to lose these researchers."

Several months ago, before he took office, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., whose family has pledged more than $200 million to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Huntsman Cancer Hospital, told the Deseret Morning News that Utah should be involved in some kinds of private embryonic stem cell research.

California, with the endorsement and backing of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, recently issued bonds of hundreds of millions of dollars to conduct state-sponsored stem cell research.

Huntsman has not proposed the same thing in Utah. And while the $8.6 million budget for next year has not been adopted, legislative leaders say there is no money in it for stem cell research here — an issue that no doubt would receive tough debate from some conservative lawmakers who oppose the research on ethical grounds.

But Tuesday, Hatch said there should not be such objections. Speaking at times in technical, scientific language, Hatch said there are 400,000 frozen eggs from U.S. women, taken and saved as part of in vitro-fertilization efforts.

They "will just be thrown away, die, and there is no chance that they ever" could become human embryos, grow to babies, if they are not properly placed in a womb, said Hatch.

Why not use those eggs for "world-changing science."

Hatch said "especially in Utah, with our high birthrate," research should also proceed on what's called adult stem cells, specifically cells from umbilical cords.

Hatch said "If we stop this research we will be way behind the world and on the wrong side of history in scientific research."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com

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