Nominee Crosses Stem Cell Divide

As an ardent foe of abortion rights, Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson signed laws that require women to wait 24 hours before an abortion and for minors to show parental consent.

But, although Thompson believes it is wrong for women to destroy life in the womb, he also has praised researchers who destroy human embryos as part of the effort to cure disease.

In fact, Thompson has called the leading scientist who uses human embryos “a bold pioneer” whose work “deserves commendation.”

Now, Thompson’s nuanced view of human embryos is about to take center stage in the emotional debate over stem cell research, a promising avenue of research that uses material from embryos and fetuses to try to cure diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and other life-threatening ailments.

Thompson is President-elect George W. Bush’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. In that job, he could influence Bush’s decision on whether to block federal funding for research using embryo and fetal cells. Bush’s allies in the anti-abortion movement are pressing him to stop the funding.

Senators are expected to question Thompson about his views on the research during confirmation hearings today and Friday, though the issue is not likely to derail his nomination.

Bush has said that he opposes federal funding for experiments that destroy human embryos. But he has not said whether he will stop the National Institutes of Health from offering the first-ever federal grants for embryonic stem cell research, expected later this year. Bush could stop the NIH with an executive order.

Amid the uncertainty, scientists and patient groups are heartened that Bush has nominated Thompson--someone who calls himself “solidly pro-life” but envisions “enormous” benefits to patients that might flow from research on embryo cells.

“For him to carry that dual citizenship of being both a pro-life Republican and an advocate for stem cell research--he’d be a very visible role model to show that you can take that point of view,” said Daniel Perry, chairman of Patients’ CURe , a coalition of 35 patient advocacy groups.

Several anti-abortion lawmakers have come out in support of stem cell research, among them Republican Sens. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and Gordon Smith of Oregon. And former Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), who did not seek reelection last year, said that he has personally contacted senior members of the Bush team to urge them not to block the NIH plan.

“I wanted them to know that there were in fact conservative, pro-life members of the Senate that support embryonic stem cell research,” Mack said. If confirmed, Thompson might make it safe for other anti-abortion politicians to support the research, Perry said.

Some anti-abortion groups are protesting the Thompson nomination because he supports the research. “Tommy Thompson does not see anything wrong with destroying tiny babies, and I see that as offensive,” said Judie Brown, president of the American Life League.

“This research is unethical and unacceptable,” said Father Joseph Howard Jr., also of the American Life League. He said that embryos are fully human and should not be destroyed, whether by medical research or abortion. Under the NIH plan, scientists could use only embryos created by people at fertility clinics but which are no longer needed.

Thompson comes to the issue with regional pride. It was a scientist in his home state, James Thomson (no relation) of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who first isolated and cultured stem cells from embryos about two years ago.

When an embryo is only a few days old--before it has arms and a brain and a heart--its cells have not yet committed to becoming any particular part of the body. As those cells multiply, they also evolve into specific body tissues, eventually becoming nerve cells, brain cells, blood cells and the like, each with a specific function.

Scientists want to extract and study cells from young embryos because those cells still have the power to become any body part. One hope is that they can guide these cells, known as stem cells, to become tissue for transplantation into patients. Stem cells could be a source of new pancreas cells for diabetics, brain cells for Parkinson’s patients and nerve cells for victims of spinal cord injury.

Thompson drew fire from anti-abortion groups in 1999 when he mentioned Thomson, the researcher, as one of seven “bold pioneers who are leading Wisconsin into the next millennium.”

In a letter that year to the American Life League, he said that “Thomson’s research was conducted according to strict ethical and legal standards and offers significant potential for human life. . . . The potential applications and benefits of this research are enormous.”

Despite those comments, one prominent anti-abortion group, the National Right to Life Committee, praised Thompson for his “pro-life” record as governor and supports his nomination.

The Bush administration would not have to cite moral concerns in blocking funds for stem cell research. Instead, it could point to a federal law that bars federal funding for research in which embryos are destroyed.

Anti-abortion groups have said that the NIH funding plan violates that law, but the agency disagrees.