BBRI Trustees Oppose Faculty Member in Stem-Cell Case

If you're wondering how the Boston Biomedical Research Institute views its faculty member Dr. James Sherley, the primary plaintiff in the stem-cell case of Sherley et al v Sibelius et al, look no further than the institute's web site. Last week, the president of the trustees of BBRI wrote the executive director, Charles Emerson, informing him of the trustees' unanimous decision to file a motion with the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, "seeking leave to join as amicus curaie" (or friend of the court) in support of the defendants. The defendants.

The trustees' belief:

[T]hat human embryonic stem cell research offers real promise in enhancing understanding of a wide variety of human diseases, and that it has the potential to facilitate development of new and better therapies and potential cures for some of mankind's most devastating diseases. 

The trustees asked that BBRI's scientists and staff be informed of the action.

More of the story, along with relevant history, can be found at this blog (see below) and, in more comprehensive fashion, at The Great Beyond blog.

• Briefing Timeline Set in Stem-Cell Appeal
• Stem-Cell Injunction Argued in Appellate Court: Yale Law Grads on Parade
• Senate Attempted to Alter Dickey-Wicker Amendment in 2001
• Appeals Court to Life Ban on Human Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
• DoJ to Appeal Stem-Cell Ruling

Image of undifferentiated hESCs from http://www.nih.gov/catalyst/2007/07.01.01/page1.html.