WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN 30, 2000 (ZENIT)

The National Institute of Healt(NIH) has issued new guidelines that would change U.S. policy towardfetal tissue research. The guidelines include standards for harvestin "stem cells" from living embryos, a procedure that kills the unborn child.  Previously, the destruction of live embryos for federal research   was not permitted. The children that will be used are "spare" embryos from fertility clinics that are "in excess of clinical need."

  The NIH is accepting public comment on the guidelines until January 31.

  Pro-life leaders assure that a large negative reaction by U.S. taxpayers

  will reverse this decision. They point out that the same research could

  be done with umbilical cord blood, adult stem cells, or placental cells.

  The guidelines are available at the NIH website ( click here...).  and comments may be

  emailed to stemcell@mail.nih.gov or faxed to (301) 402-0280.

  ZE00013023

Hompage of NIH (click here...).