More than half of Texans support embryonic stem cell research, according to a statewide poll released by Research!America.
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Seventy-eight percent of Texans support financial incentives offered by the state to attract new scientific research laboratories and companies, according to a statewide poll released by Research!America. Nearly six in 10 say Texas is a leader in medical and health research.

“Health science centers are crucial incubators of research findings that ultimately translate into better health for Americans,” said Brian Herman, Ph.D., vice president for research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “This poll suggests that Texans recognize the importance of biomedical research, that they understand the impact it has on stimulating key sectors of the Texas economy, and that they strongly support the training of tomorrow’s bench scientists and clinician scientists.”

The poll also revealed that more than half (55 percent) of Texans support embryonic stem cell research and 53 percent favor using federal funds to conduct this type of research. Fifty-nine percent approve of scientists receiving federal monies for extracting embryonic stem cells from fertilized eggs donated by fertility clinics.

A third of the individuals know someone suffering from a condition they hope will become treatable or curable as a result of embryonic stem cell research.

“Texans, like the majority of Americans, embrace medical advances such as embryonic stem cell research,” said Mary Woolley, president, Research!America. “They see the potential—for the health of people they know personally and for all Americans—and support the research needed to pursue it.”

The new poll also finds:
• Texans view health-related research as a very important national priority—more so than tax cuts (75 percent vs. 50 percent).
• Ninety-two percent see investing in scientific research as important in terms of creating jobs.
• Sixty-four percent would pay $1.00 a week more in taxes for additional medical research.
• Half would pay would pay $1.00 a week more for each prescription drug to support additional medical research.
• Three in four Texans believe Congress should support tax and regulatory policies to encourage private industries to conduct more medical research, but 53 percent say they are not well informed about the positions of their elected officials on issues concerning medical, health and scientific research.

Lessons from Katrina and Rita: Protecting the Public’s Health

The poll also asked Texans about lessons to be learned from the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:
• Ninety-six percent think it is important that elected officials at local and federal levels listen to recommendations of scientists and public health officials.
• Fifty-one percent think the problems that arose after the storms could have been prevented.
• Thirty-two percent rate the government as doing a poor job of protecting public health leading up to and after the hurricanes; 29 percent say it did a fair job; and 27 percent, a good job.
• Seventy-seven percent trust that government officials learned lessons from the disasters that will help them respond more effectively in the future.



Information in this article was compiled with the help of Research!America.