BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics & Policy

Appeals court to hear stem cell suit on Sept. 27

September 17, 2010 12:32 AM UTC

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Sept. 27 for a motion from HHS and NIH to stay a district court's ruling that prohibits federal funding of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research while the agencies appeal the decision. Last week, the court granted an administrative stay of the ruling, pending further order, after Judge Royce Lamberth denied a similar motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Separately, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a hearing on Thursday to discuss hESC research. Participants included Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who co-authored the Dickey-Wicker amendment prohibiting federal funds for hESC research. Wicker said during his testimony that "we should use limited taxpayer dollars on already proven research demonstrated in areas like adult stem cells." NIH Director Francis Collins testified that "drastic" scientific consequences will occur if NIH withdraws future support for all grants involving hESC research. ...