International developments in stem cell research and funding

January 26, 2009

Controversy continues in the US over stem-cell research, and in particular the use of human embryos to create stem cell lines. New president Barack Obama has previously said he will rescind a previous directive imposed by former president George Bush, which drastically limits federal funding for stem cell research; Bush also used his presidential veto to block moves by the US government to ease these restrictions (see previous news). Obama has also called on Congress to introduce legislation lifting current restrictions, as an alternative to making an executive order to achieve this (see Yahoo news). (PHG Foundation)