President Obama opposed Bush’s ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. This research has so much promise, that we can expect it to be resumed by the current administration.

Although private funding of this research is permitted, this limits the amount of research which can be carried out.

California funds stem research programmes by millions of dollars a year, but this is nothing compared to the amount federal funding could contribute.

First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Study Begins

One US company, Geron, is about to start the first human trial of embryonic stem cells in humans. the process is hoped to restore walking to those with severe spinal cord damage.

UK – Centre of Stem Cell Excellence

The UK is a leading centre of stem cell research, partly because of the US government’s refusal to put federal money into this research. The UK government have not been as generous with funding as they could have been; however, an insider says that any US change of heart will certainly lead to an increase in UK government funding too.

A multi-million dollar facility in Cambridge was funded mainly by a charitable trust, the Wellcome Foundation.

In November 2008, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer opened a research facility in Cambridge, saying:

Cambridgeshire ideally positions us in one of the strongest biotech regions in Europe.

Embryonic stem cell research will deliver massive benefits in a relatively short period of time.