Embryonic Stem Cell News

NIH orders halt to its human embryonic stem cell research.
The Washington Post (8/31, Stein) reports at "The Checkup" blog, "The National Institutes of Health Monday ordered all of its researchers conducting research on human embryonic stem cells to immediately halt their experiments." Also noted is that "NIH Director Francis Collins announced last week that the ruling was forcing the agency to shelve any requests for new funding for the research from scientists at universities, colleges, research institutes and elsewhere around the country." At present, "the NIH has eight research projects that use human embryonic stem cells, as well as a unit that characterizes lines added to the NIH registry of approved cells." The decision is in response to "the recent preliminary injunction ordered by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the matter of Sherley v. Sebelius."