Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is currently restricted to lines that were derived prior to Aug. 9, 2001. Today, an estimated 19 or fewer stem cell lines are available to researchers. The new poll results came as part of a study commissioned by the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) to measure public awareness of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other health-related issues.

"As the public continues to learn more about this critical issue, support for investigating new approaches to treat life-threatening conditions such as IPF, Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s throughstem cell research appears to be growing," said Mark A. Shreve, chief executive officer of the CPF. "The widespread support for stem cell research is particularly meaningful to many IPF patients and their families who are fighting such a devastating disorder for which there is no known cause or cure."

According to the poll, more than half (53%) of Americans say they would be more likely to support public funding for embryonic stem cell research if a family member or close friend were diagnosed with a disease for which there was no treatment or cure. Under this scenario 11 percent of respondents who were previously opposed tostem cell research would likely change their position and support it.

Interestingly, the youngest and oldest respondent groups were both more likely to support increased public funding, if personally affected, than those in the middle. Sixty-one percent of 18 to 34-year-olds and 58 percent of those 65 and older say they would be more likely to support public funding forstem cell research compared to 48 percent of those 35 to 49 and 50 percent of those 50 to 64.

Methodology

The poll was conducted by Washington D.C.-based KRC Research on behalf of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. The telephone survey was fielded July 10-12, 2005 from a national sample of 1003 adults 18 years of age and older, living in the continental United States. The margin of error for the study at the 95 percent confidence level is 3.1 percentage points. Raw polling data available upon request.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

IPF is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring – known as fibrosis – and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victims of their ability to breathe. Approximately 83,000 Americans suffer from IPF, and there is currently no known cause or cure. An estimated 31,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. IPF is difficult to diagnose and an estimated two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis.

About the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2001 to further education, patient support and research efforts for interstitial lung disease, and specifically pulmonary fibrosis. The CPF is governed by the nation's leading pulmonologists, individuals affected by pulmonary fibrosis, medical research professionals and advocacy organizations. With more than 8,500 members nationwide, the CPF is the largest nonprofit organization in the country dedicated to helping those with pulmonary fibrosis. The CPF's nonprofit partners include the Caring Voice Coalition, the Genetic Alliance, the Mary D. Harris Memorial Foundation, the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, The Pulmonary Paper, the Second Wind Lung Transplant Association, and more than 30 leading medical and research centers nationwide.

For more information please visit www.coalitionforpf.org.