Granholm Says: Unlock the Door to Potential for Lifesaving Treatments and Cures .(MP3- 3MB)

Governor Granholm Celebrates $206 Million State Investment in International Welcome Center and Mercado Governor Granholm Says Michigan Must Lift Restrictions on Stem Cell Research

At a town hall meeting about embryonic stem cell research last week, I heard the voices of doctors, patients, families, and researchers loud and clear: stem cell research holds the potential for life-saving treatments and cures for a multitude of diseases and injuries – if we would just unlock the door. The men, women, and children who suffer from conditions for which there is currently no treatment or cure deserve our help, and so do the families and friends who care for them.

In my 2006 State of the State Address, I urged the Michigan Legislature to pass legislation that would lift the decades-old restrictions placed on embryonic stem cell research in the state and increase penalties for anyone violating the state ban on human cloning.

I also launched an online petition in July asking the state Legislature to ease stem cell research restrictions in Michigan. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie are among the more than 7,800 citizens who have signed the petition. Muhammad Ali has Parkinson's disease, a brain disorder for which the cause and cure are unknown. The Alis have been tireless advocates for stem cell research, testifying before Congress about the need for funding and research.

If you agree with me and Muhammad Ali, and more than 70 percent of the American people and many of this country's top scientists, then sign my online petition asking the Michigan Legislature to open the door to medical research by passing the bills to lift the restrictions. In addition to potentially saving lives and preventing disease, stem cell research could also attract millions of dollars of investment in life sciences businesses and jobs to Michigan.

The online petition is located at www.michigan.gov