The ISSCR Advocates for Stem Cell Research on Capitol Hill

On a beautiful spring day in Washington, D.C., leaders from the ISSCR walked the halls of the U.S. Congress to inform legislators and their health policy staff about the progress and potential of stem cell research during the annual ISSCR Congressional Advocacy Day. 

Sixteen ISSCR members and staff from 15 states and the District of Columbia met on 12-13 March to educate policymakers on three main issues: 

• A request that Congress oppose policy riders that restrict research with human fetal tissue in both FY2024 and FY2025 spending bills. 

• A request that Congress approve a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to evaluate the effectiveness of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) policies and regulatory frameworks in preventing stem cell clinics from peddling unproven and unapproved stem cell “treatments.”  

• A request that Congress increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for FY2025. 

 Sustained Advocacy Yields Positive Outcomes 

The ISSCR’s relationship building with members of the U.S. Congress and key committee members, as well as offices in jurisdictions where academic and industry stem cell research is particularly strong, positions the Society to achieve results.  

• Thanks to the ISSCR’s advocacy in 2023 and 2024, the FY2024 funding package released just weeks after the ISSCR Congressional Advocacy Day did not include a policy rider from earlier versions of the bill that would have defunded research with human fetal tissue obtained from an elective abortion. This is a victory for stem cell research and ISSCR’s continued advocacy to defend research using human fetal tissue. 

• Many Congressional offices were not aware of the proliferation and dangers of unproven therapies and expressed interest in helping on this issue. Several offices offered to lead the ISSCR’s effort to obtain a GAO report, and the Society’s policy staff members are hosting follow-up meetings with those offices to secure a champion. 

  Many offices pledged support for the NIH but warned of a challenging funding environment for FY2025.

To see our advocacy in action and learn more about the ISSCR’s public policy activities, visit the ISSCR’s Policy page.