From the London Independent comes word of a breakthrough in treating Parkinson's disease. The Catholic Church, predictably, does not like such fare.

Reports Steve Connor:

A potential cure for Parkinson's disease has come a significant step closer today with a study showing that it is possible to treat the degenerative brain disorder with cells derived from cloned embryos – a development condemned by the Roman Catholic Church.

Update: Stem Cells Eyed to Cure Crohn's Disease in Europe-wide Trial

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Some two million Americans suffer from this intestinal disorder of an unknown cause.

An aggressive but small group of Americans are dedicated to finding a cure and new treatments, (such as Irwin M. and Suzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D.).

A former surgeon general testifies that the Bush administration forced him to put politics ahead of science on issues like stem cell research, emergency contraception, and second-hand smoke. Jim Rowen comments.

This is what struck me in the NY Times article:

In response to lawmakers’ questions, Dr. Carmona refused to name specific people in the administration who had instructed him to put political considerations over scientific ones. He said, however, that they included assistant secretaries of health and human services as well as top political appointees outside the department of health.

He served as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006. And the secretary of Health and Human Services for the first half of his term was -- Tommy Thompson.

Did Tommy sanction these restrictions, or will he claim headed a rogue agency, with his top aides running amok?

He's running for president. Someone just might want to inquire.