'It's time for a modified policy -- the right policy for this moment in time,' says Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, announcing his support for embryonic stem-cell research.

Senator Frist's shift on the issue is due to new developments in the field, he explains. From the perspective of a physican who has devoted his life to healing, Frist says he now believes that embryonic stem cells offer the most promising line of research today – one that cannot be matched by any other.

'Right Policy for This Moment'

Senator Frist, who graduated with honors from Harvard Medical School and is a board-certified heart surgeon, notes that his view is moderate and in no way undermines the value of embryonic life.

"The embryo is human life at its earliest stage of development. It deserves to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect," he says. There are methods being developed that may make it unnecessary to destroy embryos, he points out.

Studies are being conducted on the possibility of reprogramming adult stem cells back to the embryonic stage, according to Senator Frist. The issue of embryonic stem-cell research is one that should be continually re-evaluated, he says, adding that "it's time for a modified policy -- the right policy for this moment in time."

Best Hope

Embryonic stem cells are unlike other stem cells because they have the capacity to develop into any type of tissue in the human body, and they are capable of indefinite self-replication.

Supporters of embryonic stem-cell research see it as the best hope for persons suffering from debilitating illnesses, such as Parkinson's disease and diabetes, as well as paralysis caused by spinal-cord injuries.

"This represents a giant leap forward in hope for me and the 128 million Americans like me who could potentially benefit from stem-cell research," says Sabrina Cohen, co-leader of advocacy group StemPAC, and a quadriplegic as a result of a car accident at age 14.