World News
NIH approves 13 embryonic stem-cell lines for funding; more expected
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Thirteen human embryonic stem-cell lines have been approved for use in federally funded research and approval of many more lines is expected to follow, the head of the National Institutes of Health announced Dec. 2. Dr. Francis S. Collins, who took over as NIH director in August, said in a telephone briefing with the media that it was a "significant day" in the efforts to achieve President Barack Obama's goal of "a loosening up of what had been considered too stringent requirements" for federal funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells. Collins said the 13 stem-cell lines -- 11 developed at Children's Hospital Boston and two at Rockefeller University in New York -- were approved after NIH staff determined that the scientists who created the lines had followed the "very detailed informed consent process" outlined in NIH guidelines published in July. "In accordance with the guidelines, these stem-cell lines were derived from embryos that were donated under ethically sound informed consent processes," said Collins. "More lines are under review now." When the final guidelines were published July 7, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, then chairman of the bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said they ignored the comments of tens of thousands of Americans who expressed opposition to embryonic stem-cell research during the public comment period and failed to respect "existing federal law against funding research in which human embryos are harmed or destroyed."
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