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Therapeutic cloning, a form of stem cell research, holds the promise to understand, treat and cure the millions worldwide suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, and other devastating conditions for which treatments must still be found. Therapeutic cloning research could bring hope and an eventual end to their suffering, and has been described by scientists as one of the greatest medical advances of our time.

This critical scientific research is under relentless assault and the stakes are extremely high.

Take action and become a supporter and advocate for future cures.

The United Nations Debate

Therapeutic cloning (more formally known as somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT) is a form of stem cell research which holds the promise to understand, treat and cure the nearly 1 billion people worldwide suffering from cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, blindness and other devastating conditions for which treatments must still be found. Therapeutic cloning research brings hope for cures and treatments by creating replacement tissue that the human body won't reject.

Even with such promise, determined opponents are seeking a treaty in the United Nations that would ban therapeutic cloning of stem cells worldwide, under the guise of prohibiting reproductive cloning.

Reproductive cloning is dangerous and unethical and is vigorously opposed by GPI along with 98% of the public. Reproductive cloning must be distinguished from important research procedures; such as the therapeutic cloning of specific human cells, genes and other tissues. These procedures are safe, ethical, and do not and cannot lead to the birth of a human being. Policy-makers and the public have often lost the distinction between the reproductive and therapeutic cloning.

The stakes are extremely high. UN passage of a proposal to ban therapeutic cloning research would have tragic consequences. Threats of prohibition of therapeutic cloning research have already cast a pall over the entire realm of stem cell research and are causing a "brain drain" of promising young scientists who are leaving the field. The result may be a postponement of the development of new treatments and cures prolonging human suffering.

The threat to research is real. In November 2003 the therapeutic cloning was saved by a single vote. Deliberations on the future of therapeutic cloning will resume later in 2004.