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Candace Coffee (right), who suffers from a form of multiple sclerosis, wipes away tears as Sen. D

Some of the state’s most powerful politicians, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, met at the UCLA Neuroscience Research Building on Aug. 23 to announce their bipartisan support of a federal bill that would ban reproductive human cloning without harming embryonic stem cell research.

Schwarzenegger said Californians showed their support last November for stem cell research by approving Proposition 71, which provides $3 billion in state tax-exempt bonds to fund such California-based research for 10 years.

The Republican governor also said he supports a U.S. Senate bill co-sponsored by Feinstein, a Democrat, that would make human reproductive cloning or attempts to clone humans a federal crime. California already has a state law banning human reproductive cloning

A competing bill co-sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, also would make reproductive human cloning a federal crime, but it would include a ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning, which Feinstein’s bill would not.

“The Brownback bill is not designed to promote research and it would stop the California initiative in its tracks,” Feinstein said during the news conference.

Feinstein also urged the Senate to pass a House bill approved by that chamber in May that would expand the number of stem cell lines eligible for federal funding for research.

Dr. Jerome Zack, an associate academic director for the UCLA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, said current stem cell research has the potential for therapeutic benefit, but emphasized the need for regulation of cloning.

“Clearly, almost all of us feel any research that leads to cloning of a human should be outlawed,” Zack said.

Even though human cloning would be outlawed, research using human stem cells has shown the potential to provide new treatments and cures for spinal cord-injury patients and those suffering from juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and other debilitating diseases.

These genetically identical stem cells can develop into any other type of cell in the body.

Somatic stem cells are theoretically more effective than adult stem cells, which are specific to certain parts of the body, such as bone marrow or blood, because the host’s genetic code can be used to generate new, healthy cells from them, Zack said.

The only place where this research has taken place so far is South Korea, and because procedures have been established there, it should take less time to develop technology for research here, Zack said.

The UCLA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine was formed earlier this year by bringing together experts from several fields in order to further research of stem cells, and involves individuals from entities across campus – including the nanosystems institute, the medical school and the law school – to aid each other in finding a way to make stem cell research possible.

“We’re very positive on the potential of these cells. The public seems to be very supportive. Scientists are extremely supportive. The potential is amazing,” Zack said.

U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, also attended the press conference to support Feinstein’s bill. Dreier said he has talked to President Bush repeatedly about the subject.

“We should pursue all avenues of research,” Dreier said. “There is bipartisan commitment on this issue.”

Villaraigosa, a UCLA alumnus, said the benefits from stem cell research would be felt far beyond the state.

“We need Washington to stop playing politics that could impact California’s efforts to lead the nation in life-saving research,” the mayor said.

Paul Berg, a Nobel laureate and professor emeritus at Stanford University, said he supports the ban on human reproductive cloning, but added the government should not hinder scientists’ ability to do research.

“We are not cloning people, we are cloning cells to treat patients,” he said.

Candace Coffee, a UCLA graduate student who suffers from a rare ailment called Devic’s disease, urged Congress to pass Feinstein’s legislation.

“Somatic cell nuclear transfer offers a chance for a cure,” she said in a choking voice. “It’s a chance for me to lead a normal life. Don’t take away my hope.”

With reports from Bruin wire services.