US court removes ban on funding for embryonic stem-cell research

April 29, 2011

A US appeal court, overruling a lower court's decision, has cleared the way for federal financing of embryonic stem-cell research.

Last August a federal judge issued an injunction against federal funding, ruling that embryonic stem-cell research appears to violate a ban on taxpayer support for research that involves the destruction of human embryos. The Obama administration appealed that decision.

Today an appeals court in Washington, DC, by a split (2-1) vote, ruled that the injunction could do irreparable harm to the cause of research. The White House welcomed the ruling as “a victory for scientists and patients.”

 

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Further information:

• Appeals court overturns judge’s ban, allows stem cell research to go on for now (AP)