With stem cell research legislation still making its way through Capitol Hill, U.S. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, toured local research facilities yesterday to highlight advances already made as well as the need for further federal funding.

Lantos, a supporter of California’s Proposition 71 for stem cell research, toured the University of California at San Francisco, VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc.

If we don’t open up less restrictive policy, places like South Korea and Singapore will run away with this [research],” Lantos said.

The research facilities are facing huge challenges due to lack of funding and a lack of scientists trained in the field. Proposition 71, passed in California last November, should alleviate some of the pressure.

On the federal level, the stem cell research enhancement act of 2005 would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research. The bill passed in the House of Representatives 238-194 and could be considered by the Senate as early as September. However, President George W. Bush has said he will veto this legislation.


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