The University of Nebraska’s stem cell research policy stands.
With a 4-4 vote on Friday, the NU Board of Regents voted down a resolution that would have restricted stem cell research at the university to the stem cell lines approved under former President George W. Bush, which do not include embryonic stem cells. The resolution needed five votes to pass.
Current policy requires the university to follow federal and state guidelines in research.
As dictated by state law, NU cannot create or destroy embryos for research.
Any embryonic stem cells used by the University of the Nebraska Medical Center will come from fertility clinics’ leftover cells.
Regents Tim Clare, Howard Hawks, Randy Ferlic and Bob Phares voted in favor of the resolution, which they co-wrote. All four regents were endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life.
The board’s fifth pro-life member, Regent Jim McClurg, also endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life, voted against the resolution, along with regents Bob Whitehouse, Chuck Hassebrook and Kent Schroeder.
Before voting, the regents heard an hour of public testimony.
Several supporters and opponents of embryonic stem cell research urged the regents to consider their views one last time.
Administrators also spoke their minds. NU President J.B. Milliken reminded the regents of his support for embryonic stem cell research.
UNMC Faculty Senate President Karen Honeycutt spoke on behalf of the senate and said the resolution was on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of science and the wrong side of advice.
UNMC’s student regent, Bradley Bohn, delivered a message from the UNMC student body.
“The students are overwhelmingly in favor of continuing embryonic stem cell research,” Bohn said.
Before an official vote, the board members took turns explaining their positions.
“For me, this is not a vote in opposition of the med center, the chancellor or the president of the university,” Phares said before voting for the resolution.
“I have great respect for these people and my colleagues, and that respect will continue tomorrow.
“For me, this is a vote in opposition of the expansion of one form of stem cell research and in favor of the other type of stem cell research.
For me, it is a vote of my conscience, shaped by moral and ethical concerns about when life exists and who has the right to terminate it.”
Whitehouse, who voted against the resolution, told the story of his neighbor who had health problems.
“I had a young neighbor, a very young neighbor that I watched go through this until she passed away,” Whitehouse said.
“In her dying moments, she said to me, ‘Bob, please continue the research.’ It sticks with you. Is it one reason? Probably not. But it’s compelling to an awful lot of folks with an awful lot of hope along the way.”
McClurg, who broke away from his pro-life colleagues and waited until voting time to take a position, based his vote against the resolution on LB 606.
The legislation, passed last year, prohibits state facilities from creating or destroying embryos for research.
Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, said McClurg’s vote was “unfortunate.”
“We knew there was quite a possibility that Regent McClurg had gone away from his pro-life position, so it wasn’t a real shock,” Schmit-Albin said.
“Something must have compelled him. He said it was LB 606, but we refuted that.”
She added that McClurg “lost a huge base of support from the pro-life movement,” and she doesn’t expect him to run again.
Sanford Goodman, president of the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, was satisfied with the vote.
“We’re pleased that researchers will have the opportunity to pursue the best science regardless of the type of stem cells,” Goodman said. “It’s a humbling responsibility that’s been given to them here by the board, and I’m sure they will conduct themselves responsibly and in the conduct of the best science.”
The board also touched on Innovation Campus at Friday’s meeting.
The regents approved the business and master plans for the $801 billion research campus.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11 at 8 a.m. in Varner Hall, located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus.
Courtneypitts@dailynebraskan.com
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