U.S. Stem Cell Research Policy: Bush to Obama
This paper traces the evolution of United States federal policy on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research from the scientific breakthrough of 1998 through the contrasting administrations of Presidents Bush and Obama. It explains what stem cells are, why they hold such medical promise for diseases like Parkinson's, diabetes, and spinal cord injury, and how Bush's 2001 decision restricted federal funding to pre-existing cell lines. The paper then examines how President Obama's Executive Order 13505, signed on March 9, 2009, reversed those restrictions and directed the NIH to issue new guidelines expanding federal support for stem cell research.
- Scientific Breakthrough and the Promise of Stem Cells: 1998 discovery sparks debate over hESC research potential
- What Is a Stem Cell?: Definition and unique biological properties of stem cells
- Stem Cell Policy Under President Bush (2001–2009): Bush limits federal funding to pre-existing cell lines
- U.S. Stem Cell Policy Under President Obama: Obama's Executive Order 13505 expands NIH research authority
- Obama Administration Opens the Door: Policy shift signals new era for stem cell research
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- Provides clear chronological structure, moving logically from the 1998 discovery through competing presidential policies, making the policy shift easy to follow.
- Balances scientific explanation with policy analysis, defining key terms like "stem cell" and "cell line" before discussing regulatory decisions.
- Acknowledges multiple stakeholder perspectives — opponents, supporters, and the scientific community — when evaluating Bush's contested 2001 decision.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates policy comparison through historical sequencing. Rather than simply describing one administration's stance, it uses the Bush policy as a baseline against which Obama's Executive Order 13505 is measured, allowing the reader to understand exactly what changed, why it mattered, and what criteria governed federal funding under each framework.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with the 1998 scientific breakthrough that launched the stem cell debate, then defines the biological concept of a stem cell. Two central sections analyze contrasting presidential policies in chronological order. A brief concluding section synthesizes the significance of the Obama administration's policy shift. The bibliography lists three primary-source documents from government and scientific agencies.
Scientific Breakthrough and the Promise of Stem Cells
The issue of stem cell research burst onto the scientific scene in November 1998 when researchers first reported the isolation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC). The discovery, made by Dr. James A. Thomson, a biologist at a major research university, offered great promise for new ways of treating disease. The cells, which are derived from several-day-old embryos, can theoretically differentiate into virtually any type of human cell, from blood cells to skin cells. Scientists hope to find ways of using them to repair damaged tissue and to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities — including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis (AAAS Policy Brief: Stem Cell Research).
What Is a Stem Cell?
A stem cell is a cell from the embryo, fetus, or adult that has, under certain conditions, the ability to reproduce itself for long periods — or, in the case of adult stem cells, throughout the life of the organism. Although most cells of the body, such as heart cells or skin cells, are committed to conducting a specific function, a stem cell is uncommitted and remains so until it receives a signal to develop into a specialized cell. This combination of proliferative capacity and the ability to become specialized is what makes stem cells unique. Researchers have for years looked for ways to use stem cells to replace cells and tissues that are damaged or diseased (Executive Summary).
The stem cell debate reemerged in full force during the 2008 presidential campaign. On March 9, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13505, "Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells."
Stem Cell Policy Under President Bush (2001–2009)
President Bush announced his decision in a primetime address to the nation on August 9, 2001. He decided to allow federal funding of hESC research to go forward, but only on cells already in existence. After researchers isolate stem cells from a human embryo, the cells often replicate indefinitely, creating a "cell line." The president decided that for a cell line already in existence, research would be permissible because the destruction of an embryo had already taken place. However, he refused to allow publicly funded research on any cell line created in the future, so as to prevent the federal government from encouraging the destruction of human embryos (AAAS Policy Brief: Stem Cell Research).
Federal funds could be awarded for research using human embryonic stem cells only if the following criteria were met: the derivation process (which begins with the destruction of the embryo) was initiated prior to 9:00 P.M. EDT on August 9, 2001; the stem cells must have been derived from an embryo that was created for reproductive purposes and was no longer needed; and informed consent must have been obtained for the donation of the embryo, with that donation involving no financial inducements (Executive Summary).
This controversial decision drew reactions from all sides of the issue. Some opponents of hESC research expressed admiration for the decision limiting research to existing cell lines, while others argued that no research should be allowed under any circumstances. Advocates of hESC research generally praised the president for allowing some research to proceed, but criticized the restriction to existing cell lines as too strict, questioning whether sufficient research would be possible under such constraints.
References
"AAAS Policy Brief: Stem Cell Research." 10 March 2009. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 27 March 2009. http://www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/briefs/stemcells/.
"Executive Summary." 2009. The National Institutes of Health Resource for Stem Cell Research. 27 March 2009.
Federal Register. "Presidential Documents Executive Order 13505." 11 March 2009. Federal Register. 24 March 2009. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5441.pdf.
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.