On Board

Stem Cell Politics: 101

Michael B. Staebler, member LSI Leadership Council; Partner, Pepper Hamilton LLP and U-M Law '69

Life sciences research capability has become one of the key measures of the excellence of the world's great universities. To underscore its importance and to create new synergistic ways for life sciences research to be conducted, the U-M created the Life Sciences Institute and housed it in a remarkable new facility. LSI symbolizes the University's commitment to remaining one of the premier science universities in the 21st Century.

While "life sciences research" is a broad, multifaceted field, stem cell research has been in the center of the public's attention and has come to be regarded popularly as the leading edge. This perception is fueled by the promise that stem cell research can lead to curing some of mankind's greatest scourges.

So stem research has enormous symbolic value to the University and to the scientific community. If U-M is to be regarded as a place that really supports scientific inquiry, it needs to have an outstanding stem cell research program.

Fortunately, we have attracted Sean Morrison, truly one of the "best and the brightest" to lead the effort. Dr. Morrison is internationally recognized for his individual research and for assembling a superb team at the Center for Stem Cell Biology. He, and they, have made Michigan writ large on the scientific map.

But the obstacles are great, and much needs to be done.

While attending my 40th Harvard College reunion recently, I heard a prominent Harvard stem cell researcher's presentation, during which he spoke of how he pitied "poor Sean Morrison" for having to do his work in Michigan. I am not kidding. That is what the man said to the 300 of us gathered for his talk.

The Harvard researcher, of course, was alluding to the State of Michigan's law making it a crime to damage an embryo, a law passed in the 1970's when no one had conceived of stem cell research. The perception is that Michigan is a backwater for serious science, a place with a medieval mentality.

At the same time, we have an administration in Washington that has made meaningful embryonic stem cell research virtually impossible to conduct—unless it is privately funded.

So the challenges for us, who love the University of Michigan, are real. Last fall a group of us got together and helped raise money to support research using an imported "non-presidential" line of stem cells. The need is ongoing, but we are heartened by the enthusiastic support this effort is receiving. Working with LSI Director Alan Saltiel, we will raise the necessary money.

But we also need to change the politics in Lansing if we are really going to be able to retain and recruit the best and the brightest at Michigan. The stakes are high. As a public university in a state with highly publicized economic troubles, it already is difficult enough to maintain the greatness of our University. We need to change the climate for stem cell research if U-M is going to continue to be the center of excellence that we know today for our children and grandchildren.

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