Stem Cell Research

Updated Nov. 30, 2007

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has assembled a variety of resources on stem cell research, including reports, event transcripts, polling data and news clips.

Pew Forum and Pew Research Center Resources | Recent News | Advocacy Groups | Other Resources

Pew Forum and Pew Research Center Resources

Candidate Comparison: Stem Cell Research
Compare the views of the 2008 presidential candidates on stem cell research as part of the Pew Forum's Religion & Politics '08 section.

Fact Sheet: Split State Decisions on "Culture War" Issues
Stem cell research was one of several "culture war" issues that appeared on some state ballots in the November 2006 midterm election. Missouri voters narrowly approved a measure that would ensure the legality of embryonic stem-cell research in the state.

Survey: Pragmatic Americans Liberal and Conservative on Social Issues
A Summer 2006 Pew Forum poll found that a majority of Americans (56%) believe it is more important to conduct stem cell research than to preserve embryos. Public awareness of the issue has not increased over the past year despite the protracted battle between President Bush and Congress over increased funding for stem cell research that culminated July 19 in the first veto of the Bush administration.

Quick Answers: John Green Addresses Religious Dynamic in Stem Cell Politics
Values and morality, often grounded in religious belief, have shaped the political contours of the stem cell research debate. As Congress and President Bush take up the issue, Forum Senior Fellow John Green answered questions about the religious dynamic of stem cell politics.

Fact Sheet: Religion and Stem Cell Research
In August 2005, the Pew Forum released poll data indicating a steady increase in support for stem cell research since 2002. The report showed increases among evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics. Roughly half (52%) of opponents of stem cell research said their religious beliefs were the biggest influence on their thinking (compared to only 7% of supporters).

Pew Forum Bioethics Issue Page

Recent News

Opinion: Bush's 'Vision' on Stem Cells (Boston Globe, 11/30/07)
Opinion: Stem Cell Vindication (Washington Post, 11/30/07)
Opinion: Stem Cell Progress (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/28/07)
Scientists Bypass Need for Embryo to Get Stem Cells (NY Times, 11/21/07)
Stem Cell Dissent Roils States (LA Times, 8/1/07)
Future of Stem Cell Tests May Hang on Defining Embryo Harm (Washington Post, 7/29/07)
A Stem-Cell Surprise (Newsweek, 7/27/07)
Missouri Retreats from Stem Cell Work (AP, 7/24/07)
Stem Cells Made from Eggs, Not Embryos (AP, 6/28/07)
The Donors Have Spoken (Newsweek, 6/21/07)
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Divides States (Stateline.org, 6/21/07)
Bush Vetoes Measure on Stem Cell Research (NY Times, 6/21/07)
More Measures on Stem Cells Expected (AP, 6/21/07)
Survey Sees Support for Embryos in Stem Cell Work (Reuters, 6/21/07)
Politics of Stem Cell Debate in Flux (ABC News, 6/20/07)
Bush Moving to Bolster Stem Cell Alternatives (Washington Post, 6/20/07)
Bush to Veto Stem Cell Bill (AP, 6/20/07)
Scientists Claim Embryonic Stem Cell Advance (AP, 6/7/07)
Democrats Push Veto Fight on Stem Cells (AP, 6/7/07)
A Bioethics Twist: Artificial Stem Cells (CS Monitor, 6/7/07)
Researchers Coax Mouse Skin Cells to Embryonic Cells (Washington Post, 6/6/07)
Dems Plan Vote on Stem Cell Research (AP, 5/31/07)
Banking on Stem Cells (TIME, 5/30/07)
Stem Cells: Hope vs. Hype (Salt Lake Tribune, 5/27/07)
Massachusetts Proposes Stem Cell Research Grants (NY Times, 5/9/07)
Embryonic Stem Cells Can Repair Eyes, Company Says (Reuters, 5/7/07)
Stem Cell Bill Easily Clears Senate but Lacks Votes to Override a Veto (Wash Post, 4/12/07)
Senate Revisits Debate On Stem Cell Research (Washington Post, 4/11/07)
Bush Promises Veto On Stem Cell Bill (AP, 4/10/07)
Stem Cell Vote Set for Congress this Week (Reuters, 4/8/07)
More Govs Boost Stem Cell Research (Stateline.org, 4/5/07)
U.S. Senate to Debate, Vote on Stem Cell Bill After Recess (Associated Press, 3/30/07)
Panel Finds Flawed Data in a Major Stem Cell Report (NY Times, 2/28/07)
California Stem Cell Research Is Upheld by Appeals Court (NY Times, 2/27/07)
Illinois Senate OKs Stem Cell Research (AP, 2/23/07)
Wisconsin, U.K. Join Forces on Stem Cells (The Capital Times, 2/13/07)
Bill Would Use 'Flawed' Embryos for Stem Cells (Cox News Service, 1/31/07)
Each Stored Embryo is a Stem Cell Debate (USA Today, 1/30/07)
Op-Ed: A Middle Ground for Stem Cells (NY Times, 1/19/07)
Scientists Say Placenta May Ease Stem Cell Debate (Religion News Service, 1/12/07)
Passions Aflame as Stem Cell Bill Passes (Chicago Tribune, 1/12/07)
Op-Ed: Stem Cell Miracle? (Wash Post, 1/12/07)
House Passes Bill for Stem Cell Research (AP, 1/11/07)
White House Is Opposed to New Bill on Stem Cells (NY Times, 1/11/07)
House to Pass Stem Cell Bill, Lacks Votes to Override Expected Bush Veto (AP, 1/11/07)
New Science on Stem Cells Draws White House Focus (Wall St Journal, 1/10/07)
Amniotic Stem Cell Study No 'Substitute' (AP, 1/10/07)
Another Showdown Looms over Embryonic Stem Cells (AP, 1/9/07)
Scientists See Potential In Amniotic Stem Cells (Wash Post, 1/8/07)
Stem Cell Research (WSJ, 1/6/07)
New Stem Cell Technique -- No Embryos Used (San Fran Chronicle, 12/15/06)
Child Who Received Stem Cells from Aborted Fetus on Way Home (AP, 12/11/06)
Democrats Plan to Revive Embryonic Stem Cell Bill that Bush Vetoed (AP, 11/29/06)
Election Outcome Boosts Embryonic Stem Cell Work (Reuters, 11/13/06)
Missouri Win a Boon for Stem Cell Work (Wash Times, 11/9/06)
Gay Marriage Loses at Polls, Stem Cell May Win (Reuters, 11/8/06)
Stem Cell Split Plays Out in Pews (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/6/06)
Actor Tackles Emotional Political Role (Balt Sun, 11/3/06)
Stem Cell Issue Gains Momentum in Homestretch (Wash Times, 11/2/06)
Wis. Governor Race Focuses on Stem Cells (AP, 10/27/06)
Election Battle on Stem Cells Heats Up in Missouri (Reuters, 10/25/06)
Democrats Hope Stem Cell Stance Crosses Party Lines (Chicago Tribune, 10/24/06)
Black Clergy are Making a Stand (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/21/06)
Measure Poses Hard-to-Answer Question (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/8/06)
Stem Cell Debate Goes to Voters (Stateline.org, 10/5/06)
Researchers Report Growing Stem Cells From Dead Embryos (Wash Post, 9/23/06)
Scientists, Lawmakers Eye Missouri as Stem Cell Vote Nears (AP, 9/14/06)
New Stem Cell Ethics Issue Emerges (Newsweek, 9/13/06)
Embryonic War (Newsweek, 9/4/06)
Stem Cell News Could Intensify Political Debate (NY Times, 8/24/06)
Stem-Cell Supporters Begin Ballot Campaign (Kansas City Star, 8/15/06)
Republican vs. Republican: A Cellular Division (St. Petersburg Times, 8/14/06)
Churches Joining Stem Cell Showdown (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/29/06)
Stem-Cell Funding's Private Side (WSJ, 7/28/06)
Conservative Democrats Aim to Rule Out Pa. Stem Cell Funds (Phil Inq, 7/26/06)
Catholic Church Fails in Bid to Halt EU Funding for Research into Stem Cells (FT, 7/25/06)
Stem Cell Work Gets States' Aid After Bush Veto (NY Times, 7/25/06)
Stem Cell Politics: An Unsettled Issue (CQ, 7/24/06)
Stem-Cell Issue: Republicans' Undoing? (WSJ, 7/21/06)
Stem Cell Issue Draws Hopefuls (Wash Post, 7/21/06)
Medical and Ethical Questions Raised on Deaths of Critically Ill Patients (NY Times, 7/20/06)
First Bush Veto Maintains Limits on Stem Cell Use (NY Times, 7/20/06)
In First Veto, Bush Blocks Stem Cell Bill (NY Times, 7/19/06)
Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Bill As Promised (AP, 7/19/06)
Religious Right Takes on Stem Cell Research (US News, 7/19/06)
Bush to Veto Stem-Cell Bill (NPR, 7/19/06)
Senate Passes Stem Cell Bill; Bush Vows Veto (Wash Post, 7/19/06)
Senate Approves Three Stem Cell Bills (RNS, 7/19/06)
Senate Approves Embryonic Stem Cell Bill (AP, 7/18/06)
Op Ed: Meeting Stem Cells' Promise -- Ethically (Wash Post, 7/18/06)
Bush Set to Use First Veto on Stem Cell Bill (Wash Post, 7/18/06)
Stem Cell Debate Wedges Bush Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Wash Post, 7/18/06)
Stem-Cell Bills Top Senate Agenda (WSJ, 7/18/06)
Op Ed: Stem Cells In Senate Spotlight (Wash Post, 7/16/06)
Stem-cell research foes mobilizing (Kansas City Star, 7/11/06)
Stem Cells Back in Political Spotlight (Wash Post, 7/9/06)
Brownback Fears Short-Changing Adult Stem Cell Research (Wichita Eagle, 6/21/06)