NIH to fund stem cell experiments

In his first nationally televised address since taking office, President Bush on Thursday briefly described the potential benefits to medicine and science of conducting research on embryonic stem cells, mentioned the ethical and religious objections to such research, and announced his plan for reconciling the two positions. He will allow federal funding of research based on lines already established by non-government sources.

Bush said that private research institutions have created more than 60 "genetically diverse" stem cell lines. "They were created from embryos that have already been destroyed, and they have the ability to regenerate themselves indefinitely, creating ongoing opportunities for research. I have concluded that we should allow federal funds to be used for research on these existing stem cell lines, where the life-and-death decision has already been made," Bush said. "Leading scientists tell me research on these 60 lines has great promise that could lead to breakthrough therapies and cures. This allows us to explore the promise and potential of stem cell research without crossing a fundamental moral line by providing taxpayer funding that would sanction or encourage further destruction of human embryos that have at least the potential for life," he added. ...