This is why we can't have nice things!
The head of the National Institutes of Health said Tuesday that some stem cell research would continue for a while, but new research would be stopped, in the wake of a federal judge's ruling Monday that blocked President Obama's order in 2009 to expand embryonic stem cell funding.
"I was stunned, as was virtually everyone here at NIH," agency director Francis Collins said. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth blocked Obama's executive stem cell order, saying it conflicted with a ban on using federal money to destroy embryos.
"Stem cell research offers true potential for scientific discovery, and hope for families. This decision has just poured sand into that engine of discovery," Collins said at a news conference late Tuesday afternoon.
The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that it would appeal Lamberth's ruling, said Tracy Schmaler, a department spokeswoman.
Collins said promising research on diseases — including spinal cord injury and diabetes — would come to a premature stop, as well as screening for new drugs. "Researchers who have been so energized by opportunities made available over last year may move on to other countries and other fields of research," he said.
Jerome Zack, associate director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, said he was "shocked, discouraged and confused" when he first heard the news.
After listening to Collins' response Tuesday, Zack said: "The news is not good. But it's not as bad as could be."
One of Zack's grants was recently renewed, so he can continue for the rest of the year. But he said he has to figure out the best use of the money. "One option is to focus intently on what you think will give you the fastest and cleanest results within that time frame," he said.
Collins outlined the immediate effect of the ruling on research financed through the NIH:
•143 grants worth $95 million, which are now up for annual renewal, will be frozen.
•22 grants totaling $54 million, whose existing research is coming up for renewal in September, will been frozen.
•131 grants awarded this year already are out the door and will not be affected until they're up for renewal in a year.
Stem cell researchers expressed deep concern over future work.
Renee Reijo Pera, director of the Stanford Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, said, "We've basically emptied out our toolbox for human developmental studies."
She said researchers will have to turn to private funding, and hope it will be there, to support their work.
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