Kansas Coalition
for Lifesaving Cures
PO Box 394
Topeka KS 66601-0394

Toll-free: 800-821-2658
Email: info@kansascures.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2006

CONTACT:
Peter Cleary
National Director of Media Relations
Office (212) 479-7553
Cell (917) 574-6993
email pcleary@jdrf.org


JDRF Joins the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures


Supports Effort to Protect Stem Cell Research and Patient Access to Cures

New York, NY – The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world’s largest private supporter of research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes and related complications, today announced its support for the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, a coalition of leading patient advocacy and medical organizations working to protect patient access to stem cell treatments, therapies and cures.

“JDRF is pleased to endorse efforts to ensure that any treatments or therapies derived from stem cell research will be available to people with diabetes in Kansas,” said Larry Soler, JDRF’s Vice President of Government Relations. “The people of Kansas should be able to take full advantage of any therapies derived from stem cell research without fear of breaking the law. It’s equally important that the world-class medical research institutions in Kansas be allowed to fully explore the potential of stem cell research that we hope will lead to new treatments and therapies – and perhaps one day a cure – for a wide range of diseases, including type 1 diabetes.”

The Coalition’s policy position is that any stem cell research, therapies or cures that are permitted by federal law should be allowed in Kansas provided that such activities are conducted ethically and safely and do not involve human cloning. And, a recent public opinion poll shows that 79 percent of Kansas voters agree with this basic policy position. More information about the Coalition can be found at www.KansasCures.com.

Stem cells could one day provide cures for diseases and injuries that afflict hundreds of thousands of Kansas children and adults – and millions of other Americans – including diabetes, Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease, ALS, sickle cell disease and spinal cord injury.

The Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures was formed to support all types of stem cell research and cures in Kansas – and to oppose continuing attempts by some politicians to impose a state ban on stem cell research and future cures that are allowed under federal law. Any such bans would unfairly prohibit Kansas patients from having access to future stem cell cures and prevent Kansas medical researchers from providing and helping to find those cures.

JDRF now joins with other leading patient and medical organizations as a proud member of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, including the:

  • Christopher Reeve Foundation
  • Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
  • Parkinson’s Action Network
  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  • Stowers Institute for Medical Research
  • University of Kansas Medical Center

JDRF is the largest charitable funder of diabetes research in the world. Founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes – a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications, JDRF has provided more than $900 million to diabetes research worldwide. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF’s mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

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