It looks like Senator Orrin Hatch shares our view that stem cell research will benefit from the next congress activities.  Here's a link to an UPI story regarding stem cell legislation and his feeling regarding the potential of overturning a veto.

Hatch optimistic about stem cell research (UPI)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, says he believes the next Congress will pass legislation expanding stem cell research, over a presidential veto if necessary.

With the Democrats taking office, it certainly seems as if there is a push for more stem cell research.  Below are a few of the recent headlines showing a move toward a more pro research stance.

Finance Committee approves $181M loan to California's Stem Cell Research Institute (News-Medical-Net)
The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Finance Committee on Monday unanimously approved a $181 million loan to the state's stem cell research institute, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in an effort to start the program, which has been stalled by lawsuits, the Los Angeles Times reports (La Ganga, Los Angeles Times, 11/21).

Legal Dispute Over Anti-Aging Medicine Ends (RedNova)
By Judith Graham, Chicago Tribune Nov. 17--An unusual legal fight between an organization promoting anti-aging medicine and a University of Illinois at Chicago professor has ended in a settlement, with neither side paying damages or the other's costs.

We're seeing an increase of anti aging supplements and treatments.  Some are valid, others are quackery.  As the old adage goes, buyer beware, just because you recognize the pretty face doesn't necessarily imply that the potion is pure.

AMA urges tighter regulation of anti-aging hormone compounds (CNN.com)
CHICAGO, Illinois ( AP) -- The American Medical Association has stepped into the controversy over alternative hormone treatments for aging that actress-fitness guru Suzanne Somers advocates in a new book.

Science of stem cells and aging highlighted at Wonderfest fair (Stanford Report)
Stem cells cannot save us from death, but they might help us live longer and healthier lives—provided the government doesn't interfere, researchers said Nov. 4 at the Wonderfest science fair at Stanford.

Bio-Matrix Announces Construction and Installation of the Class ...

Stem Cells are showing up in the news more and more.

This week researches have grown the worlds first artificial liver .  Question:  Is it really artificial if it's composed of human cells?

Also, Michael J. Fox and the Catholic Church go head to head in the stem cell battle!

STEM CELL SCIENTISTS GROW LIVER (Daily Record)
THE world's first artificial human liver has been grown by UK scientists. Experts used stem cells from umbilical cords to produce a tiny version of the body's largest internal organ.

Do organisms act like heat engines and wear out after a certain amount of use?  The evidence seems to vacillate back and forth!

Cool Mice Live Longer (LiveScience.com via Yahoo! News)
Mice genetically altered to literally live a cooler life also lived longer, scientists now report.

Caloric restriction is getting more press as a potential means of extending human life.  The expert quoted in the story below discusses potential for an average life expectancy of 112 years with outliers around 140 years due to the oldest known effective preventitive treatment for aging diseases.  Hopefully we'll see a serious effort and funding go into this area of research.  Several scientists are calling for a $3 billion dollar campaign to extend life expectancies seven years.  Sounds cheap to me!

Recipe for aging: Less calories for more life (Detroit News)
How depressing, how unjust, to be the one in your social circle who is aging least gracefully. & ...

Aging Research is getting much more notoriety in the press.  Here are a few headlines culled from the news this week regarding the launch of a new aging research program, red wine extract and aging in mice, as well as a discussion of inflammation's role in the aging process.

Research for a better old age: Launch of the 'New Dynamics of Aging' (EurekAlert!)
The New Dynamics of Ageing Programme (NDA), the most ambitious research programme on ageing ever mounted in the UK, will be launched today in partnership with the UK Funders Forum for Research on Ageing and Older People, at a conference entitled The Future of Ageing Research.