Michael J. Fox: Obama’s Election Brings ‘Hope’ To Stem Cell Research Efforts

On the heels of comments from Barack Obama’s office this week that Obama will likely use his executive powers to reinstitute stem cell research once he’s in the White House, Michael J. Fox has offered praise for the new President-elect.

In an exclusive statement to Access Hollywood, Fox, a vocal advocate for stem cell research, said Obama’s victory in the election brings “hope” to those supporting stem cell research efforts.

“With Obama’s election, this country is reveling in a newfound sense of hope,” Fox said in a statement to Access. “In addition to picking up where we left off eight years ago with the vast potential of stem cell research, we will now surely see a renewed commitment to speeding cures to the millions of people whose lives have been touched by illness or injury.”

Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, has funded nearly $130 million in Parkinson’s research since 2000 through The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Earlier this week, John Podesta, who is spearheading Obama’s transition to the White House on January 20, 2009, said the new President-elect was reviewing President George W. Bush’s stance on a variety of issues, including stem cell research.

“I think across the board, on stem cell research, on a number of areas, you see the Bush administration even today moving aggressively to do things that I think are probably not in the interest of the country,” Podesta said, according to the New York Times.

On July 19, the U.S. Senate had voted to remove and restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. However, President Bush vetoed the decision the next day.