Correction: This article incorrectly stated that R. Alta Charo receives research funding from Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The Cardinal regrets this error.
A UW-Madison professor of law and bioethics was appointed to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team Friday.
R. Alta Charo, a prominent university researcher who was previously a member of former President Bill Clinton's Bioethics Advisory Commission, will serve on Obama's Health and Human Services team.
Charo confirmed her appointment via e-mail, but said she could not provide further comments at this time.
Norman Fost, UW-Madison professor of medicine and public health and a colleague of Charo, said her appointment was due to her nationally and internationally recognized expertise on ethical, legal and policy issues involving health care.
According to Fost, Charo is a well-known advocate for stem cell research. As chair of a National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine committee, she plays a leadership role in writing stem cell research guidelines.
Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, said her appointment speaks well of the university.
From my perspective, I don't think they could have chosen anyone better,"" Gulbrandsen said. ""She'll do a great job and be a great ambassador for the university.""
For decades Charo has been a longstanding supporter of pro-choice policies and has served as an advisor to the Guttmacher Institute, a national organization involved in reproductive rights, Fost said.
UW-Madison junior Bryon Eagon, state coordinator of Students for Barack Obama, said he believes Charo's appointment will provide the new administration with insight to the ethics behind stem-cell research.
""Her new position shows that the Obama administration is ready to turn the page on President [George] Bush's neglect to even explore potential life saving medical advances through embryonic stem cell research,"" Eagon said in an e-mail.
Despite attention placed on stem-cell research, once in office, Obama's number one priority in Health and Human Services will be citizens' access to health care, Fost said.
""[Obama's] heart is in the direction [of overturning the stem-cell research ban] but it will be a matter of tactics and strategy as to when or if he takes that on,"" he said.
