New Haven, Conn., May 31, 2005 - The Connecticut House today passed a bill supporting embryonic stem cell research. The bill was passed by the Connecticut Senate May 26.

CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence), the state bioscience organization, was a leading proponent of the legislation and an important resource in researching and drafting it. Paul Pescatello, president and CEO of CURE, responded to the House action as follows:

"This is great news, both for patients and their families seeking new therapies for debilitating diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, and for those interested in attracting substantial bioscience investment and high-paying jobs to the state.

"With President Bush set to veto any expansion of federally funded embryonic stem cell research, it will be up to the states and to private investors to fund additional research in the area. When Governor Jodi Rell signs the bill into law, as she has stated she will do, Connecticut will be in the vanguard as a state that not only welcomes embryonic stem cell research but supports it financially."

CURE (http://www.curenet.org) is a statewide coalition of over 100 educational and research institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and other supporting businesses. It is dedicated to promoting the growth and increasing public understanding of biomedical research and science in Connecticut.

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