Strong Support for Stem Cell Research
AUGUSTA, Me.—Jan. 18, 2006—More than 90% of Maine residents say it is important that Maine be a leader in health and medical research, though fewer than one in four (23%) see the state that way, according to a new statewide poll released today by Research!America.
Residents overwhelmingly think state funding for scientific research at local universities is as important as preparing communities for catastrophic events, with 90% saying each is important. However, nearly 60% are unable to name places in Maine where medical research is conducted. Only one in five (20%) named Bar Harbor's The Jackson Laboratory, and just 12% cited the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough.
"Maine is home to a strong base of research-driven institutions," said Rick Woychik, PhD, director of The Jackson Laboratory, a Research!America member. "This poll shows that Maine's residents want our state to be a leader in scientific research and see the value it brings to our economy, and the public should be aware that world-class research is happening right in our backyard."
The new poll further finds:
- 83% of Maine residents say health and medical research is important to the state's economy;
- 78% support the state offering financial incentives to attract scientific research companies;
- 94% believe it is important to invest in scientific research to create jobs and increase income levels;
- 64% are willing to pay $1 per week more in taxes for additional medical research;
- 96% say it is important for the U.S. to educate and train individuals to conduct medical and scientific research.
As many states consider the potential of stem cell research, the poll finds almost two-thirds of Maine residents (65%) in favor of embryonic stem cell research, with 64% supporting federal funding for such research. Nearly two-thirds of the state's residents (65%) think research into therapeutic cloning to search for possible treatments for diseases and disabilities, should go forward, but a strong majority (78%) opposes reproductive cloning, which is the use of cloning technology to create a child.
"Literally from Maine to Hawaii, Research!America's state polls consistently show strong levels of support for therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research, but that support is particularly strong in Maine," said Mary Woolley, president of Research!America. "The people of Maine clearly value medical and health research as a priority for their state and the nation."
Nearly all the state's residents (95%) think it is important for the United States to be a global leader in medical and health research, and 84% say the federal government should support basic research that advances scientific knowledge even if it brings no immediate benefits. Other poll findings include:
- More than half (52%) believe we should spend more on medical and health research than the current six cents of every health dollar, and 68% say we should increase spending for prevention and public health research beyond the current one cent of every health dollar;
- Maine residents overwhelmingly support (92%) medical research to study and eliminate health problems that disproportionately affect lower-income and minority citizens;
- 65% say that, as the nation's looks for ways to manage health care costs, the national commitment to health-related research should be higher.
About Research!America
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make medical and health research-including research to prevent disease, disability and injury and to promote health-a much higher national priority. Research!America has been gauging Americans' attitudes toward medical and health research for more than a decade.
Research!America commissioned Charlton Research Company to conduct the poll by telephone with 800 Maine residents, ages 18 and over, from Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 2005. The entire sample was proportionate to the state's demographics, including geography, gender, voter registration and ethnicity. The results have a statistical precision of ± 3.5 percentage points of polling the entire adult population of Maine.
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