Court of Appeals stays ruling on federal embryonic stem cell funding, funding will continue

On September 9, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia stayed a temporary injunction against the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research after an appeal from the U.S. Justice Department.

In a major victory for supporters of the research, the court said the Obama administration could resume funding the research pending a full appeal of the case.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, ruling in a lawsuit filed by two researchers working on alternatives to the cells, said the funding violated a federal rule that prohibits federal tax money from being used for research that involves the destruction of human embryos.....

The original decision was hailed by opponents of the research, who argue it is immoral to destroy human embryos. But it was condemned by supporters and advocates for patients, who said it was a major setback for one of the most promising areas of biomedical research.

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