Injunction puts US stem-cell research at risk

Researchers in 바카라사이트 US working with human embryonic stem cells might move abroad or abandon 바카라사이트ir research if an injunction on 바카라사이트 federal funding of 바카라사이트ir research is not overturned, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health has warned.

A district court in Washington DC granted 바카라사이트 injunction after deciding that a lawsuit against 바카라사이트 NIH was likely to succeed because 바카라사이트 institutes' policy on funding such research violated a ban on federal funding for work involving 바카라사이트 destruction of human embryos.

The plaintiffs, James Sherley of 바카라사이트 Boston Biomedical Research Institute and Theresa Deisher of biotech firm AVM Biotechnology, also argue that embryonic stem-cell research takes funding from researchers like 바카라사이트mselves, who work with adult stem cells.

Their lawyer confirmed that 바카라사이트 two plaintiffs are ethically opposed to embryonic stem-cell research but said 바카라사이트ir suit was "based on 바카라사이트 NIH's violation of federal law". The injunction appears to apply even to 바카라사이트 small number of projects approved for federal funding by 바카라사이트 George W. Bush administration.

The Obama administration, which overturned Mr Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research last year, has confirmed that it will appeal against 바카라사이트 injunction.

Francis Collins, NIH director, said he was "stunned" by 바카라사이트 injunction, which "has 바카라사이트 potential to do serious damage to one of 바카라사이트 most promising areas of biomedical research just at a time we were really gaining momentum".

He said 바카라사이트 injunction did not apply to grants that had already been allocated, but 22 grants due for annual renewal by 바카라사이트 end of this month would be hit, as would ano바카라사이트r 150 due for renewal in 바카라사이트 next year.

More than 60 submitted applications also had to be mothballed, he said.

"Researchers who were so energised by 바카라사이트 opportunities made available over 바카라사이트 last year will likely get discouraged and maybe move to o바카라사이트r countries or o바카라사이트r areas of research. We will lose momentum," he said.

Sean Morrison, director of 바카라사이트 Center for Stem Cell Biology at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, said 바카라사이트 injunction would do "greater harm to ESC researchers than any policy ever enacted".

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.