DES MOINES – Iowa could be one of several states considering changes this year to laws governing stem cell research.

An Iowa law meant to outlaw human cloning also forbids therapeutic cloning to develop new stem cells, which scientists say hold new promise in therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Gov. Tom Vilsack, in his Condition of the State Address, called for repeal of the 2002 law. He said the new medical treatments were not envisioned when the law was first passed.

“We never dreamt that the treatments resulting from those research opportunities would ever develop so quickly, would ever develop lifesaving treatments, but they have,” Vilsack said.

Mary Hendrix, a cellular biology researcher at the University of Iowa from 1996 to 2004, said she hopes Vilsack’s statement generates serious reconsideration of the law.

“For Iowa to come out with a law that specifically prohibited research in that area, it seems to me without realizing the promise of the reward, was terribly shortsighted,” she said.

Hendrix left Iowa in 2004 to become president of Children’s Memorial Research Center at Northwestern University in Chicago, where no such restrictions are in place.

She said what’s needed is an open discussion of the restrictions, which prevent Iowa from being a leader in stem cell therapies.

“We’re just now realizing the advantages of using therapeutic cloning for clinical applications,” Hendrix said. “Therapeutic cloning will generate stem cells that are genetically compatible with a recipient. That would avoid all the problems associated with host rejection and immune rejection.”

Dr. Nicholas Zavazava, a University of Iowa immunologist, said the restrictions mean innovative scientists do not consider Iowa universities for their work, which means the state misses out on research grants.

“It is a disadvantage to Iowa,” he said.

Sponsors of the 2002 bill insist that therapeutic cloning is unethical.

Rep. Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, said she plans to study the issue in the coming weeks, but wants to make sure researchers have explored options other than cloning.

“I will be looking at that very closely so I can be confident of which way we really need to be going with this,” Upmeyer said.

Zavazava said recent research indicates that nuclear cell transfer is “the way to go” for medical breakthroughs in a number of areas.

He believes public sentiment on the issue could change if it was explained clearly.

“There’s never been a good explanation to the general public on what this research actually involves and where these cells would come from,” Zavazava said.

Alissa Johnson, who researches state trends for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said some states considered limiting the use of stem cells in research last year, while others looked at lifting such limits and broadening stem cell research.

Over the last two years, New Jersey has provided $23 million for the New Jersey Stem Cell Institute. California voters approved a proposal in November 2004 allowing the state to borrow up to $350 million a year to fund stem cell research.

Connecticut and Illinois also provided millions of dollars in funding for research last year.

Besides Iowa, Michigan, North and South Dakota, Arkansas and Indiana have moved to restrict the use of stem cells.

“I think we can say that it will continue to be a hot issue in 2006,” Johnson said.