Michigan is losing businesses, jobs and some of its best scientists because of restrictive embryonic stem cell research laws, according to scientists and others seeking to change the research climate.
Though proponents have long touted the promise embryonic stem cells hold for people with incurable diseases, they are beginning to focus on Michigan's missed economic opportunities.
"Other states are seeing embryonic stem cell research has major economic development potential … and are moving into this area in a big way because they smell jobs," said David Waymire, a spokesman for Michigan Stem Cell Research and Cures. "One hundred years ago, a small operation run by a guy named Henry Ford spawned a vast industry. We should be careful not to tell the Henry Fords of stem cell research that Michigan is closed for business."
How much are we losing? We don't know offhand, the state hasn't conducted a study (yet), but it probably runs in the billions.
California has taken the lead nationally by passing a ballot issue that allowed the state to invest $3 billion in stem cell research over 10 years. The investment is projected to generate state revenues and health care cost savings of between $6.4 billion and $12.6 billion, according to an economic impact report by the Analysis Group Inc.
Michigan, one of five states in the nation that does not allow the development of new embryonic stem cell lines, is focused on easing legal restrictions. A hearing on three bills will be Oct. 31 before the House Judiciary Committee. The bills aim to allow embryonic stem cell research but increase penalties for human cloning, one of the fears cited by opponents of the research.
That's a bad minority to be in- other states are eating our lunch while we get left behind in the 20th century, prisoners of irrational fears of cloning and whatever crazy theory the extreme right wants to throw around this week.
Alfred Taubman recently donated $1.4 million to Michigan Stem Cell Research & Cures, and pledged to help with a ballot proposal (by an affiliated group, Chet) should our legislators fail to act.
He hopes lawmakers will ease state laws through legislative efforts under way. But if lawmakers fail to pass the legislation, embryonic stem cell research supporters are exploring whether to ask voters in November 2008 if the law should be changed. Documents were filed this month with the state to set up a ballot campaign committee.
Taubman has an example of how money he has donated went to California because they weren't allowed to do the research here...
This is already costing us.
Taubman, who has donated $150 million over his lifetime, including $60 million to the University of Michigan, recently gave $5 million to Eva Feldman, a prominent U-M researcher of Lou Gehrig's disease. She is researching whether stem cells can counteract the destruction of nerve cells in some patients. She is using rats genetically altered with a gene present in many Lou Gehrig's patients
But because of the laws in Michigan, Feldman had to take Taubman's gift and team up with a researcher in California, a state that has invested millions in embryonic stem cell research. She and Martin Marsala, an associate professor at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, could begin clinical trials in five years if they are successful in counteracting nerve cell destruction in Lou Gehrig's patients with stem cells.
What are the chances this passes in the Michigan House? Good question. Last November, Dillon said he would not block a vote on stem cell research when he was elected Speaker, but there is a chance that some of the more conservative Democrats might hold this up. In early January of this year, the Freep ran a story indicating that the House may be a problem.
Still, the overall balance of power in Lansing on the issues of abortion, stem cells and cloning is relatively unchanged because many Democrats don't support a change in the existing Michigan law, which prevents the destruction of human embryos for stem-cell research.
Whether this is still true or not remains to be seen. Andy Meisner has been working hard on this issue all year (check out the YouTube video from LL here). Perhaps some minds have changed by now, or perhaps Dawson Bell was wrong about that in the first place.
Conservative Democrats would be well advised to think long and hard about the vote on this issue- last year, groups like "Republicans for Granholm" formed based on the idea that the right wing was too extreme in their views, and stem cell research was one of the issues cited.
Ziegler said he disagrees with Republicans in Washington and Lansing who oppose embryonic stem cell research and who have turned many social issues into political litmus tests.
"I'm going to disappoint some people in the Republican Party. But those are the extremists in our party who want to block stem cell research and who turned out of office a good man like U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz," Ziegler said.
Pay heed, Democrats, and get on the side of your constituents on this issue. Polls show an overwhelming majority of Michigan citizens favor this research.
Even if it does make it through the House, this is one more thing that will probably die in the obstructionist Senate, and we are going to have to take it to a ballot proposal. In the meantime, business is left wondering what will be next...
It's important that Michigan change its law not only to move toward finding better treatments and cures of diseases but also to foster a more positive business environment, said James Eliason, vice president for external development for Asterand, a tissue research company in Wayne State University's TechTown.
"The current law gives a negative impression to anybody who would want to move into the state with a high-tech life sciences company," Eliason said.
"Even if they weren't intending to work on stem cells, it can send a negative message about what's the next thing they might want to outlaw."
... and some will contemplate moving out of state.
If Michigan doesn't change its laws, proponents say, other states seeking to expand life science and biotech industries will continue to court Michigan businesses such as BioFlow Industries, a Whitmore Lake start-up firm developing equipment for studying human cells.
Owner Lee Noll recently traveled to North Carolina and later this month is flying to Texas to meet with investors who want him to move his business.
Noll doesn't want to leave Michigan, but he said he might have to because his fledging company needs investors to expand into what he expects will be a $50 million venture within five years. Few Michigan investors are willing to take the risk.
This is a no-brainer all around. Alleviate human suffering, create jobs and investment, and it's a winning political issue all at the same time? What do we have to lose, except for the stigma that Michigan is controlled by extremist viewpoints?
Let's get this done.
Visit Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research & Cures for more information.