STEM CELL COALITION ANNOUNCES WEBSITE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jayne Mackta, NJABR
908.964.9449

April 18, 2005, Union, NJ - The New Jersey Citizens' Coalition for Cures (NJCCC), a statewide not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the importance and potential benefits of stem cell research, announced today that the Coalition's website at www.njstemcell.org can now be accessed by the public.

"We invite the public to visit the website and learn more about stem cell research,' said Jayne Mackta, President of the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research who serves as Director of NJCCC. "Much of the controversy that accompanies stem cell research is based on miscommunication and lack of understanding. In fact, this research is scientifically sound, and is worthy of support for both medical/scientific reasons, and for its importance to New Jersey's economy.'

NJCCC is a grassroots coalition comprised of patient advocacy organizations, researchers and scientists, academic research institutions, faith organizations, businesses, and individual New Jerseyans committed to advancing the search for cures and treatments for life-threatening diseases and debilitating chronic conditions. The coalition represents thousands of New Jerseyans who support publicly-funded stem cell research in the state.

"If New Jersey is to maintain a research leadership position in this country, it's imperative that we continue to move forward on stem cell research,' said Mackta. "Without committing public money to this research, our efforts will be overshadowed by those made in California, and by the dozen or so additional states that are planning referendums on public funding of stem cell research in elections next year.'

Mackta noted that, as President of the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research, she is aware of research being conducted in private and academic laboratories across the state. "New Jersey's position as home base for the global pharmaceutical industry and the nation's fourth largest biotechnology cluster depends upon the researchers who live in our state. These companies follow the researchers, and if they relocate to other states, our research-based companies may leave with them. Of course, we also know that these scientists, with the use of stem cell research, could also find the cure for diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, and countless other chronic conditions that affect so many people.'

For more information about NJCCC, visit the website at www.njstemcell.org, or call 908-964-9815.