Italian minister gives OK to EU stem cell research

Published Sunday, June 4, 2006

ROME (AP) - Italy’s new research minister has touched off a political storm in this Roman Catholic country by saying he was open to embryonic stem cell research.

The fuss began when University and Research Minister Fabio Mussi - a left-wing lawmaker from a former Communist Party - said during a visit to Brussels last week that he had removed Italy’s signature from a "declaration of ethics" objecting to using European Union funds for embryonic stem cell research.

The declaration had allowed its seven signatories to block any EU plans for funding such research in countries that allow it. In Italy, stem cell research is illegal and is not affected by Mussi’s decision.

"Let us stay open to dialogue on ethics, and let’s not close the door on human hope," Mussi said, in a front-page commentary published Friday in the Rome daily La Repubblica.

Yesterday, Mussi received a high-profile boost from Rita Levi Montalcini, a senator-for-life in the Italian Parliament who won the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1986.

"I am fully in agreement with Mussi’s position to finally allow research on stem cells," the scientist said in an interview.

Cells taken from human embryos are uniquely versatile, and many hope that one day they could help treat Alzheimer’s, Type 1 diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other health problems.

Roman Catholic teaching opposes scientific research on human embryonic stem cells.

Church officials as well as conservative opposition members blasted Mussi’s move, saying he had disregarded the feelings of most Italians.

Newly elected Premier Romano Prodi and many members of his center-left coalition have distanced themselves from Mussi’s position.

Opposition politicians said the issue showed that Prodi’s fractious coalition - whose parties range from Christian Democrats to Communists - could not agree, and that the premier could not control his ministers.