S.D. Banker Supports Stem Cell Research

Philanthropist Makes $30 Million Donation To Calif. Research Group To Sidestep State Ban

(AP)  Sioux Falls banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford is giving $30 million to a stem cell research initiative based in San Diego.

Sanford says the funds will go to the San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine - four institutes that will collaborate on the research.

Human embryonic stem cell research is controversial, but scientists say it could aid the treatment for a range of diseases. Stem cells can grow into any kind of tissue in the body.

In 2000, South Dakota banned anyone from knowingly conducting "nontherapeutic research that destroys a human embryo" or research that subjects an embryo to "substantial risk of injury or death." It also bans anyone from using for research purposes "cells or tissues that the person knows were obtained" through embryonic stem cell research.

Using such cells for science kills human life, say embryonic stem cell research opponents.

Sanford Health of Sioux Falls, which got a $400 million pledge from T. Denny Sanford last year, has vowed to cure Type 1 diabetes using regenerative medicine. Officials at Sanford Health say the latest donation won't directly affect their diabetes effort.

The philanthropist said Type 1 diabetes is one of several diseases that could benefit from stem cell research.

The donation "makes sense because I believe that stem cell technology may be a significant part, if not the major (driver) of medicine in the future," Sanford said Tuesday.

The San Diego consortium includes the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, the University of California-San Diego, the Salk Institute and the Scripps Research Institute. It will be renamed the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has made a $43 million grant. That plus the Sanford donation will help build and equip the new center, to be built next to Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Burnham is a major research partner of Sanford Health, thanks to a $20 million donation last year.

The latest donation isn't directly linked with Sanford Health's research efforts with Burnham, said Dave Link, Sanford Health executive vice president.

[fox_granit]

maxify55

What about all of those who are descarding eggs that were fertilized under in vitro fertilization. Those "babys" were made for selfish reasons then killed? I guess under your moral idea they are, so why the big push from the "moral right" that in vitro is a good thing when your killing more babies?

[twb0392]

Thatsa nice..

[afmca]

Maxify55 shows the ultimate false self-righteousness of opponents of stem cell research. Does it make you feel morally superior to call every one that doesn''t agree with your opinion murderers? People obviously much smarter than you disagree with your assertion that using stem cells kills a baby .. in reality the stem cell has not evolved enough to become anything as of yet. That the religious right has subjugated Bush and Repubs for cheap political gain is unforgiveable. America is doomed because people like you are destroying science with your religiously inspired mindsets. If you research history, the largest impediment to science has been religious bias ... the sun revolved around the earth, Newton''s theory on gravity was heresy, witches were hunted and KILLED by religious folk, the Inquisition seriously impinged scientific thought and progress, Franklin''s discovery of electricity was initally fought, and evolution is still being fought by the religious neanderthals. Meanwhile the rest of the world is moving forward and America is losing its position of leadership is so many scientific areas. Once again stop imposing your biased theories on the rest of society. If you are against stem cell research don''t support it, but I also expect you to forego any benefits the research produces.

[itgranny]

This is really nice of them. Hopefully their money will find the cure to juvenile diabetes.

Thank you T. Denny Sanford!