Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act Passed to support research for paralysis

Christopher and Dana Reeve’s work over the last decade of their lives was devoted to finding a cure for paralysis and supporting all kinds of research to see that the medical community has all of the tools to find a cure for this problem which affects millions worldwide. Yesterday President Obama followed through on his word lifting the 8 year ban on stem cell research by federal grant holders as part of an effort to find a real cure for this form of disability. The stem cell work has the most promise for fast and permanent repair of not only spinal chord but many other neural based forms of paralysis and many other degenerative neural diseases. Nerve cells do not regenerate the way other cells in your body do which is why stem cells are ideal for nerve therapies as these cells do grow. It is a shame that the abortion issue has managed to derail research for 20 of the last 28 years in the United States as every Republican president has immediately banned the use of human stem cells in federally funded research as soon as they have come into power. All research in the past 8 years using stem cells has been privately funded or done outside of the United States. The state of California issued its own stem cell initiative a couple of years back to make up for Federal shortfalls. Hopefully- research can get back on track.

Christopher and Dana’s son Matt Reeve was on hand to see the historic bill passed.

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