Judge Rules To Block Funding For Stem Cell Research

09/15/10

Judge Lamberth cited a law passed in 1996, the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, that prohibits the federal funding of research that involves the destruction of a human embryo in his decision. Lamberth's decision effectively blocks an executive order from President Obama issued in March of 2009 which expanded stem cell research.

Obama's decision led to the creation of several new projects involving stem-cells as well as the approval of 75 new stem cell lines by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The ruling is being considered a large step backwards in terms of progress in the field of stem cell research.

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Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health says that the decision ''has the potential to do serious damage just at a time we were gaining momentum.''

Tim Kamp, the director of the University of Wisconsin Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center says that Lamberth's ruling will be harmful to the United States' standing in the global market place. ''It will put us at a huge competitive disadvantage to other countries.'' Collins said that countries like Japan, the U.K., Australia and China were all among the countries making significant headway into the field.

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Defending the decision was David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical Association. The CMA, with its nearly 17,000 members, was among the plaintiffs in the case. Stevens argued a point very relevant to pro-lifers, saying that ''People forget that each one of us was an embryo and if someone destroyed us for biological parts, we wouldn't be around today.''

Leonard I. Zon, director of the Stem Cell Program at Children's Hospital Boston, was very disheartened by the decision. Zon said that ''American scientists have been put at a disadvantage against their counterparts all over the world.''

Zon also expressed concern over the effects the ruling could have on the nation. ''The economic impact of this injunction on the United States could surely be huge. Scientists run increased risks of running afoul of the law and will be increasingly isolated from their colleagues overseas.'' Zon also wrote, ''We risk that the U.S. will fall increasingly behind.''

While appeals have already been filed with the courts, scientists have been given thus far just over $130 million in grants with which to conduct research during the current fiscal year. According to the NIH, they may continue to use those funds until they are depleted.