Friday, January 23, 2009; 11:45 a.m. ET

CAMR Issues Statement on Geron Clinical Trials

The following may be attributed to Amy Comstock Rick, president, Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research:

"Today's news about Geron's embryonic stem cell clinical trials is a milestone in this new era of hope, and adds to the momentum for policy change when it comes to embryonic stem cell research. What was expected when the first embryonic stem cells were isolated just ten years ago may now be coming to fruition. For the sake of the trial participants and others whom this research could help, we hope that this trial is a complete success. For the field of embryonic stem cell research, we appreciate all that can be learned from this first-of-its-kind trial in this exciting new field of medicine.”

The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) is the nation's leading bipartisan pro-cures coalition. Comprised of more than100 nationally recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, and foundations, CAMR’s advocacy and education outreach focuses on developing better treatments and cures for individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders.

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Media Contact: Carol Blymire, 301.332.8090, carol@carolblymire.com