Madison, Wisconsin (CNSNews.com) - With internationally-recognized embryonic stem cell research under way roughly two miles from the state capitol, Wisconsin legislators this week are being urged to adopt two bills aimed at banning all forms of human cloning and protecting human embryos.

"The best of the best are coming to our state to address some of the most contentious issues of our day," Susan Armacost, legislative director of Wisconsin Right to Life, said of Thursday's expert forum and Friday's public hearing, which will cap this first week of floor action in the state Legislature.

The Wisconsin Catholic Conference is joining Right to Life in sponsoring the capitol forum, designed to educate legislators about alternatives to embryonic stem cell research while courting their support for the two measures.

One makes it a felony, carrying fines of up to $10,000 plus prison time, to conduct the embryonic stem cell research pioneered on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in 1998 by biologist James Thomson, who was the first to isolate and grow such cells from leftover embryos given by couples who had received infertility treatments.

Both bills have mostly Republican authors and co-sponsors, although there are a few Democrats on board. Sponsors expect the measures to pass the Republican-controlled Assembly and then stall in the Democratic-ruled Senate.

Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the legislation, however, calling it devastating to Wisconsin's efforts at finding cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes, and to the state's image as a worldwide leader in biotechnology.

"Stem cell research is critical to the nation and Wisconsin," said Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive and Democratic candidate for governor. Madison is the county seat of Dane County. "Not only will this research lead to cures that will help millions, but also it is vital to the growth of our state's economy."

Mark Bugher, head of the University of Wisconsin Research Park and a former cabinet member in the administration of former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, labeled the legislation "disappointing," considering the potential of the on-campus research.

Among the experts scheduled to speak at Thursday's forum and at Friday's Assembly Health Committee public hearing:

-- David A. Prentice, a professor of Life Sciences with Indiana State University where he conducts adult stem cell research.
\li360
-- JoAnn Davidson of the Snowflakes Embryonic Adoption Program, Fullerton, Calif., an agency which facilitates the adoption of frozen embryos in fertility clinics.

-- Anton-Lewis Usala, a pediatric endocrinologist and clinical associate professor of pediatrics at East Carolina University.