Where our Parkinson's stem cell research money is going

[Guest guest]

This news report was at: http://www.msnbc.com/snap/571938.asp

It's interesting to me that Congress could not find $100 million last

year for Parkinson's research and that they and Bush are considering banning

stem cell research for Parkinson's. Then they snap their finhers

and find twice that in one year (more next year) for AIDS research

which has been on the front burner at NIH since 1980. I guess MSA

and PD are not "devastating" enough.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

-----------------------------

U.S. gives seed money to AIDS fund - Bush pledges $200 million in first

donation to new U.N. effort

MSNBC NEWS SERVICES

WASHINGTON, May 11 — Saying the devastation wrought by HIV and other

infectious diseases "is almost beyond comprehension," President Bush on

Friday pledged $200 million to a newly created U.N. fund to fight AIDS

around the globe, but particularly in Africa.

‘The United States has got ample money

for this and the money has just got to be

found.’

GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE

“IN A PART of the world where so many have suffered from war and want and

famine, these latest tribulations are the cruelest of fates. We have the

power to help,” Bush said at a Rose Garden ceremony with Nigerian President

Olusegun Obasanjo and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi n.

"Working together is the key," Bush continued. "Only through sustained

and focused international cooperation can we address problems so grave

and suffering so great."

Bush said the $200 million — the first money donated to the fund — will

not diminish "the billions we spend on research and to the $760 million

we are spending this year to help the international effort to fight AIDS."

Both Obasanjo and n thanked Bush for what the Nigerian leader called

"a message of hope from the United States of America." But the stressed

that they remain far from their goal and gently nudged Bush to consider

more.

‘JUST THE BEGINNING’

“But with this beginning — and just the beginning, as you have kindly emphasized

for the U.S. — all nations, governments, foundations, private individuals

and private sector and indeed all human kind who are stakeholders in the

health of humanity are challenged and called upon to make contributions,”

said Obasanjo, the first African president to visit the Bush White House.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, hosted an African summit on AIDS

last month at which n proposed creation of the global fund, with the

goal of raising $7 billion to $10 billion a year to fight the spread of

HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. n also is courting private

sector donations for the fund, which will fund education, prevention, research,

treatment and care.

The disease is the No. 1 cause of death in Africa; of the estimated 36

million people infected with HIV, 70 percent or some 26 million live in

sub-Saharan Africa. The global fund's efforts are expected to be concentrated

there, though.

WashPost: AIDS vaccine hopes rise

Secretary of State Colin , who attended the sober ceremony, testified

Thursday in support of the additional U.S. funds during a House subcommittee

hearing on the State Department’s budget.

“Nations will collapse if we don’t fix these problems,” told lawmakers.

Beginning May 22, will travel to Africa — with stops in Mali, South

Africa, Kenya and Uganda — to see the AIDS problem firsthand and discuss

bilateral issues in those countries.

FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS LIKELY

Bush said the $200 million was only an initial contribution, "with more

to follow as we learn where our support can be most effective." Administration

sources told the Associated Press that a further $500 million was under

consideration for 2002.

AIDS activists scoffed at the size of the initial donation. The Health

GAP Coalition of activist groups called it "less than a drop in the bucket

.... less than 1 percent of the proposed $1.35 trillion tax cut that will

largely benefit the richest citizens of the richest nation in the world.

“It’s criminally small,” agreed Bryden of the Washington-based Global

AIDS Alliance. “The United States has got ample money for this and the

money has just got to be found — something along the lines of $2.5 billion.”

After

the AIDS announcement, Bush and Obasanjo retired to the Oval Office for

meetings.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

[Guest guest]

Bill, I believe one of the key elements to the decision on where federal funds go is the perceived level of importance the issue has to the voters in general. Because so many people realize a potential for the AIDS virus to continue to spread and to potentially mutate to pose a risk to everyone, AIDS enjoys a lot of general support (ie. voters support research) and there are also some very determined and vocal groups of activists who work their legislators very effectively. The same is true of cancer for which all pretty much have a universal risk during our lifetimes.

One of our best hopes for developing more awareness and support for our cause is probably to continue efforts to form coallitions with other neurodegenerative groups to have a broader and more identifiable voice (voting block).

In the end though, it comes back to the old adage

"it all depends on whose ox is gored." If these neurodegenerative diseases were thought to be transmissable to the general public by virus or other means rather than being largely sporadic and/or hereditary, you bet your --- we'd see some support for research and treatment.

Best regards,

Jerry Cash

Where our Parkinson's stem cell research money is goingThis news report was at: http://www.msnbc.com/snap/571938.asp It's interesting to me that Congress could not find $100 million last year for Parkinson's research and that they and Bush are considering banning stem cell research for Parkinson's. Then they snap their finhers and find twice that in one year (more next year) for AIDS research which has been on the front burner at NIH since 1980. I guess MSA and PD are not "devastating" enough. Take care, Bill and Charlotte ----------------------------- U.S. gives seed money to AIDS fund - Bush pledges $200 million in first donation to new U.N. effort MSNBC NEWS SERVICES WASHINGTON, May 11 - Saying the devastation wrought by HIV and other infectious diseases "is almost beyond comprehension," President Bush on Friday pledged $200 million to a newly created U.N. fund to fight AIDS around the globe, but particularly in Africa. 'The United States has got ample money for this and the money has just got to be found.' GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE "IN A PART of the world where so many have suffered from war and want and famine, these latest tribulations are the cruelest of fates. We have the power to help," Bush said at a Rose Garden ceremony with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi n. "Working together is the key," Bush continued. "Only through sustained and focused international cooperation can we address problems so grave and suffering so great." Bush said the $200 million - the first money donated to the fund - will not diminish "the billions we spend on research and to the $760 million we are spending this year to help the international effort to fight AIDS." Both Obasanjo and n thanked Bush for what the Nigerian leader called "a message of hope from the United States of America." But the stressed that they remain far from their goal and gently nudged Bush to consider more. 'JUST THE BEGINNING' "But with this beginning - and just the beginning, as you have kindly emphasized for the U.S. - all nations, governments, foundations, private individuals and private sector and indeed all human kind who are stakeholders in the health of humanity are challenged and called upon to make contributions," said Obasanjo, the first African president to visit the Bush White House. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, hosted an African summit on AIDS last month at which n proposed creation of the global fund, with the goal of raising $7 billion to $10 billion a year to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. n also is courting private sector donations for the fund, which will fund education, prevention, research, treatment and care. The disease is the No. 1 cause of death in Africa; of the estimated 36 million people infected with HIV, 70 percent or some 26 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. The global fund's efforts are expected to be concentrated there, though. WashPost: AIDS vaccine hopes rise Secretary of State Colin , who attended the sober ceremony, testified Thursday in support of the additional U.S. funds during a House subcommittee hearing on the State Department's budget. "Nations will collapse if we don't fix these problems," told lawmakers. Beginning May 22, will travel to Africa - with stops in Mali, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda - to see the AIDS problem firsthand and discuss bilateral issues in those countries. FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS LIKELY Bush said the $200 million was only an initial contribution, "with more to follow as we learn where our support can be most effective." Administration sources told the Associated Press that a further $500 million was under consideration for 2002. AIDS activists scoffed at the size of the initial donation. The Health GAP Coalition of activist groups called it "less than a drop in the bucket ... less than 1 percent of the proposed $1.35 trillion tax cut that will largely benefit the richest citizens of the richest nation in the world. "It's criminally small," agreed Bryden of the Washington-based Global AIDS Alliance. "The United States has got ample money for this and the money has just got to be found - something along the lines of $2.5 billion." After the AIDS announcement, Bush and Obasanjo retired to the Oval Office for meetings. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

[Guest guest]

It is likely that the 200 million for AIDS was in response from being booted off the UN human rights seats for not having helped out with AIDS internationally. Disease popularity is based on the face fronting it as well as the politics. Perhaps the message of how people are touched by these diseases have not yet been conveyed. As a health policy analyst and medical researcher, as well as a 30 year young woman with Shy-Drager, I hope I can help getting the message out. - Waverley>>> b.werre@... 05/11/01 01:53PM >>>This news report was at: http://www.msnbc.com/snap/571938.asp It's interesting to me that Congress could not find $100 million last year for Parkinson's research and that they and Bush are considering banning stem cell research for Parkinson's. Then they snap their finhers and find twice that in one year (more next year) for AIDS research which has been on the front burner at NIH since 1980. I guess MSA and PD are not "devastating" enough. Take care, Bill and Charlotte ----------------------------- U.S. gives seed money to AIDS fund - Bush pledges $200 million in first donation to new U.N. effort MSNBC NEWS SERVICES WASHINGTON, May 11 — Saying the devastation wrought by HIV and other infectious diseases "is almost beyond comprehension," President Bush on Friday pledged $200 million to a newly created U.N. fund to fight AIDS around the globe, but particularly in Africa. ‘The United States has got ample money for this and the money has just got to be found.’ GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE “IN A PART of the world where so many have suffered from war and want and famine, these latest tribulations are the cruelest of fates. We have the power to help,” Bush said at a Rose Garden ceremony with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi n. "Working together is the key," Bush continued. "Only through sustained and focused international cooperation can we address problems so grave and suffering so great." Bush said the $200 million — the first money donated to the fund — will not diminish "the billions we spend on research and to the $760 million we are spending this year to help the international effort to fight AIDS." Both Obasanjo and n thanked Bush for what the Nigerian leader called "a message of hope from the United States of America." But the stressed that they remain far from their goal and gently nudged Bush to consider more. ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’ “But with this beginning — and just the beginning, as you have kindly emphasized for the U.S. — all nations, governments, foundations, private individuals and private sector and indeed all human kind who are stakeholders in the health of humanity are challenged and called upon to make contributions,” said Obasanjo, the first African president to visit the Bush White House. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, hosted an African summit on AIDS last month at which n proposed creation of the global fund, with the goal of raising $7 billion to $10 billion a year to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. n also is courting private sector donations for the fund, which will fund education, prevention, research, treatment and care. The disease is the No. 1 cause of death in Africa; of the estimated 36 million people infected with HIV, 70 percent or some 26 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. The global fund's efforts are expected to be concentrated there, though. WashPost: AIDS vaccine hopes rise Secretary of State Colin , who attended the sober ceremony, testified Thursday in support of the additional U.S. funds during a House subcommittee hearing on the State Department’s budget. “Nations will collapse if we don’t fix these problems,” told lawmakers. Beginning May 22, will travel to Africa — with stops in Mali, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda — to see the AIDS problem firsthand and discuss bilateral issues in those countries. FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS LIKELY Bush said the $200 million was only an initial contribution, "with more to follow as we learn where our support can be most effective." Administration sources told the Associated Press that a further $500 million was under consideration for 2002. AIDS activists scoffed at the size of the initial donation. The Health GAP Coalition of activist groups called it "less than a drop in the bucket ... less than 1 percent of the proposed $1.35 trillion tax cut that will largely benefit the richest citizens of the richest nation in the world. “It’s criminally small,” agreed Bryden of the Washington-based Global AIDS Alliance. “The United States has got ample money for this and the money has just got to be found — something along the lines of $2.5 billion.” After the AIDS announcement, Bush and Obasanjo retired to the Oval Office for meetings. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

[Guest guest]

Jerry,

I agree with you to a large extent, except that this also happened in

1981. Up until that time NIH had always had a committee decide on

ethics. Reagan appointed such a committee and the committee reported

back to him that NIH should do a fetal tissue transplant study for Parkinson's

Disease (about $27 million). The vote of the committee was 18 to

3 to go ahead with the study (later reported as 19-2). The committee

had at least four theologians in it's makeup. Before Reagan decided,

Jerry Falwell and Pat on (two of Reagan's major supporters) had

a meeting with him and he almost immediately announced a ban on the research

"because it would increase abortions". The same year Reagan directed

NIH to put about $27 million into AIDS research with no committee study

on the ethics of taking the money from PD research and putting it into

AIDS research.

At that time on was saying on the 700 Club that there were 1.5

million abortions in the USA every year. The planned research protocol

for 40 people to get the fetal tissue and 40 more to get surgery with a

placebo (but the 40 who got the placebo surgery could decide later to get

the real surgery if they wanted) it took about 10 fetuses to get

enough tissue to do one transplant so the entire study done over three

years would involve at most about 1000 fetuses or just over 300 per year.

There are presently more than 1000 heart transplants per year in the USA

(not including liver, kidney and eye transplants).

Clinton allowed the fetal tissue transplant study to go ahead in 1993.

It DID help most Parkinson's patients for a period of 12-24 months and

did cause additional dyskinesia in two of the 40 patients who had the real

transplants (that is 5%). While this was not the cure they had hoped

for - this did tell researchers many things and started the search for

an earlier cell. That lead them to the stem cell and the dopamine

producing neuron. This may not be the final answer either - but the

research MUST continue if they are to find a cure.

When blood transfusions first started more than 50% of the recipients

may have died (and a few of the donors as the doctors took too much).

Many moralists said at that time that blood transfusions were morally wrong

- in fact Jehovah's Witnesses still do. But still many more people

lived even then because of the blood transfusion. Thank God that

researchers continued to experiment and found the RH factors. Even

now people give a kidney to someone knowing that it may cost them their

life if the one kidney fails.

In the meantime, I have the right to believe in my own personal religion

and relationship with my God. We are all different - an example -

Charlotte and I are the same denomination yet I will be cremated and give

my organs up if they want them, yet Charlotte wants to be buried in a casket

and does not even want an autopsy. I feel it would be good for her

to give her brain for research, but she does not want to, and that is her

decision, not mine or my daughter's decision.

Why does W. Bush have the right to stop research that may save

millions of people from suffering based on his personal beliefs, yet spend

my tax dollars on a weapons system which will kill tens of thousands of

humans? Why should Charlotte suffer, because in FY 1990, under

Bush, Sr. NIH spent about $3000 per USA patient on AIDS research, yet only

spent about $300 per USA patient on heart research, about $300 per USA

patient on cancer research and less than $30 per USA patient on Parkinson's

research.

I am an engineer and know technology. The computer is so complex

that we can not make it totally safe from even teenage hackers. There

are warnings every day that the Chinese will hack into our computers or

the net and foul things up. Does it make sense to spend many many

billions of dollars on a system designed to fry a terrorist missile that

is controlled by a computer??? All the terrorist has to do is make

the computer turn the laser and fry you or me. OR knowing the defense

laser is there, launch a missile with a mirror and redirect the laser beam

which tries to shoot it down at the USA or an ally? Of course first

we have to make a laser that powerful which is a danger in itself.

But who cares if some humans get destroyed while building the laser, they

are adult cells.

How does spending billions to fry people fit with this: "Give to the

one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow

from you. "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and

hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those

who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes

his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous

and the unrighteous." (Matt. 5: 42-45) Christ also said in

the same chapter that anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of

the fire of hell. I study my Bible too (and have for over 60 years).

If Bush was worried about voters in general, he would realize the voters

in general support stem cell research by 62-66 per cent in every poll.

But remember that the majority of people in the USA voted for other people.

In fact more people in the USA voted for Gore than Bush.

Where should the USA put this moral line? We built a bomb that

fried 70,000 people in an instant, we are going to execute a man on TV,

yet we are saying that we can not even do research on cells that will be

destroyed in any case? That does not compute to me. We spend

over a million dollars on one Tomahawk missile which is designed to blow

up a building and the people in it and fire 30 of these missiles in one

night, yet it is not ethical to spend $30 million on human research that

has proven it can cure Parkinson's in mice. That does not jive with

chapter 5 to me. Wars, executions and pluripotent stem cell

research are all for the common good and belong to Caesar, not the church.

I am not for or against war and executions (but not on TV please).

Christianity defeated the Romans without a war or ever firing a bullet,

but it took 300 years of turning the other cheek.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

Jerry Cash wrote:

Bill,

I believe one of the key elements to the decision on where federal funds

go is the perceived level of importance the issue has to the voters in

general. Because so many people realize a potential for the AIDS

virus to continue to spread and to potentially mutate to pose a risk to

everyone, AIDS enjoys a lot of general support (ie. voters support research)

and there are also some very determined and vocal groups of activists who

work their legislators very effectively. The same is true of cancer

for which all pretty much have a universal risk during our lifetimes.One

of our best hopes for developing more awareness and support for our cause

is probably to continue efforts to form coallitions with other neurodegenerative

groups to have a broader and more identifiable voice (voting block).In

the end though, it comes back to the old adage"it

all depends on whose ox is gored." If these neurodegenerative diseases

were thought to be transmissable to the general public by virus or other

means rather than being largely sporadic and/or hereditary, you bet your

--- we'd see some support for research and treatment.Best

regards,Jerry

Cash

-----Original

Message-----

From: Werre

Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001

12:53 PM

To: MSA List

Subject: Where our Parkinson's

stem cell research money is going

This news report was at: http://www.msnbc.com/snap/571938.asp

It's interesting to me that Congress could not find $100 million last

year for Parkinson's research and that they and Bush are considering banning

stem cell research for Parkinson's. Then they snap their finhers

and find twice that in one year (more next year) for AIDS research

which has been on the front burner at NIH since 1980. I guess MSA

and PD are not "devastating" enough.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

-----------------------------

U.S. gives seed money to AIDS fund - Bush pledges $200 million in first

donation to new U.N. effort

MSNBC NEWS SERVICES

WASHINGTON, May 11 - Saying the devastation wrought by HIV and other

infectious diseases "is almost beyond comprehension," President Bush on

Friday pledged $200 million to a newly created U.N. fund to fight AIDS

around the globe, but particularly in Africa.

'The United States has got ample money

for this and the money has just got to be

found.'

GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE

"IN A PART of the world where so many have suffered from war and want and

famine, these latest tribulations are the cruelest of fates. We have the

power to help," Bush said at a Rose Garden ceremony with Nigerian President

Olusegun Obasanjo and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi n.

"Working together is the key," Bush continued. "Only through sustained

and focused international cooperation can we address problems so grave

and suffering so great."

Bush said the $200 million - the first money donated to the fund - will

not diminish "the billions we spend on research and to the $760 million

we are spending this year to help the international effort to fight AIDS."

Both Obasanjo and n thanked Bush for what the Nigerian leader called

"a message of hope from the United States of America." But the stressed

that they remain far from their goal and gently nudged Bush to consider

more.

'JUST THE BEGINNING'

"But with this beginning - and just the beginning, as you have kindly emphasized

for the U.S. - all nations, governments, foundations, private individuals

and private sector and indeed all human kind who are stakeholders in the

health of humanity are challenged and called upon to make contributions,"

said Obasanjo, the first African president to visit the Bush White House.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, hosted an African summit on AIDS

last month at which n proposed creation of the global fund, with the

goal of raising $7 billion to $10 billion a year to fight the spread of

HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. n also is courting private

sector donations for the fund, which will fund education, prevention, research,

treatment and care.

The disease is the No. 1 cause of death in Africa; of the estimated 36

million people infected with HIV, 70 percent or some 26 million live in

sub-Saharan Africa. The global fund's efforts are expected to be concentrated

there, though.

WashPost: AIDS vaccine hopes rise

Secretary of State Colin , who attended the sober ceremony, testified

Thursday in support of the additional U.S. funds during a House subcommittee

hearing on the State Department's budget.

"Nations will collapse if we don't fix these problems," told lawmakers.

Beginning May 22, will travel to Africa - with stops in Mali, South

Africa, Kenya and Uganda - to see the AIDS problem firsthand and discuss

bilateral issues in those countries.

FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS LIKELY

Bush said the $200 million was only an initial contribution, "with more

to follow as we learn where our support can be most effective." Administration

sources told the Associated Press that a further $500 million was under

consideration for 2002.

AIDS activists scoffed at the size of the initial donation. The Health

GAP Coalition of activist groups called it "less than a drop in the bucket

.... less than 1 percent of the proposed $1.35 trillion tax cut that will

largely benefit the richest citizens of the richest nation in the world.

"It's criminally small," agreed Bryden of the Washington-based Global

AIDS Alliance. "The United States has got ample money for this and the

money has just got to be found - something along the lines of $2.5 billion."

After

the AIDS announcement, Bush and Obasanjo retired to the Oval Office for

meetings.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

[Guest guest]

<<

It's interesting to me that Congress could not find $100 million last

year for Parkinson's research and that they and Bush are considering

banning stem cell research for Parkinson's. Then they snap their

finhers and find twice that in one year (more next year) for AIDS

research which has been on the front burner at NIH since 1980. I guess

MSA and PD are not " devastating " enough.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte>>

or enough to that many bt