Whether the federal government should fund embryonic stem cell research has yet to be decided. The issue has sparked controversy in the state of Iowa, separating the scientific and pro-life communities.

Kim Gordon, executive director of the Iowa Right to Life, said the organization is in favor of stem cell research in adults, but not embryos.

“We are against killing humans for experiment, especially when adult stem cell research is successful and you do not have to kill anyone for it,” she said.

Gordon said there have been great strides in adult stem cell research that have not been made in embryonic research.

“We are in favor of adult stem cell research and we are against using human embryos for research,” Gordon said.

Audrey Chapman, director of the American Association for the Advancement of Science program of dialogue on science, ethics and religion, has a different perspective.

“We support stem cell research because it offers very proper application for a host of medical problems where there is not any current medical help,” Chapman said. “We believe it can be done ethically.”

Rev. Everett Hemann, a priest at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, said stem cell research is a difficult issue.

“I am very divided. On the one hand there is the obvious . help it could provide for people,” he said. “On the other hand, there is respecting human life in the most primitive form.”

Tony Mazzaschi, associate vice president of research for the Association of American Medical Colleges, said the association is in support of stem cell research.

“We strongly support federal funding of stem cell research,” Mazzaschi said. “Right now it is only funded through commercial industry.”

Currently federal funds can be used to support research on stem cells derived from embryos that had been kept frozen at the fertility clinics, as long as only privately-funded researchers work on the embryos to extract the cells.

Chapman said there are many scientists who are interested in the pure science of stem cell research.

“The [American Association for the Advancement of Science] is advocating the federal funds for all sources of stem cell research because at this time it is difficult to anticipate the potential of all these sources,” Chapman said.

Mazzaschi said federal funding will allow university hospitals at places, like the University of Iowa, to do research on embryonic stem cells.

“It could be done at the college hospitals where we believe the best research is done in the country,” Mazzaschi said. “Right now, with commercial funding, not all the records are public and with federal funding all the research would be open to the public.”

Chapman said federal funding will help develop faster therapies than private funds could.

“There will not be sufficient private funds to produce therapies in a relatively short amount of time,” Chapman said.

Mazzaschi said they want the patients to receive the best health care possible.

“We want to get cures to patients as quick as possible and the scientific possibilities, with embryonic stem cell research will bring cures to patients faster,” Mazzaschi said.

However, Chapman said private companies may not be looking at what is best for everyone.

“Private companies will focus on what are the most profitable rather than the application for treating significant disease,” she said.

Hemann said the stem cell issue creates a slippery slope when it comes to ethics.

“If we begin to use embryos and willfully destroy them, then we develop a lack of respect for it at the next level, and that would be children,” he said.

Mazzaschi said opposition is expected when talking about an issue many consider to be sensitive.

“There are some opposed to stem cell research in the right to life groups and there are five catholic medical schools that are opposed, but we respect their position,” he said.

President George W. Bush is reviewing stem cell research and has said he will make a decision regarding federal funding by the end of July.

Mazzaschi said he is optimistic about the president passing federal funding, but if he does not the issue will go back to the Congress.

Hemann said a major problem in the debate over embryonic stem cell research is the difference in interpretations of when a human life begins.

“The other issue is when does human life begin – from conception?” Hemann said. “On the other hand, we do not treat the embryos as a human life.”