Appeals Court Allows Stem Cell Funding 09/09 13:26

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court on Thursday permitted federal 
funding of stem cell research to proceed for now, while it considers a judge's 
ruling that had temporarily shut off the funds.

   The government is asking the appeals court in Washington to strike down a 
preliminary order by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth blocking federal 
funding for some stem cell research.

   The three-member appeals panel says it is suspending Lamberth's ruling for 
now. The appeals judges say they want more time to deal with issues in the 
government's appeal.

   Lamberth rejected the administration's request to let funding continue while 
it pursues an appeal of his order.

   The appeals court said the purpose of its administrative stay was to give 
the judges sufficient opportunity to consider the merits of the Justice 
Department's emergency motion which seeks to suspend Lamberth's ruling.

   Thursday's move "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the 
merits" of the Justice Department's motion, the appeals judges said in their 
three-paragraph order.

   Twenty-two stem cell projects around the country were scheduled to receive 
new checks in September, and thus were presumed to be planning to stop work 
when their money ran out.

   Lisa Hughes, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical 
Research, said her organization is very pleased that the appeals court has 
taken the step.

   "It is crucial that federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research 
be restored permanently and this stay is a step in that direction," Hughes said 
in a statement. "While this issue continues to be argued in the courts, we call 
on Congress to move swiftly to resolve this issue and secure the future of this 
important biomedical research."

   The appeals judges in the case are Karen LeCraft Henderson, Janice Rogers 
Brown, and Thomas B. Griffith. Henderson was appointed by George H.W. Bush and 
Brown and Griffith were appointed by George W. Bush.

   Medical researchers value stem cells because they are master cells that can 
turn into any tissue of the body. Research eventually could lead to cures for 
spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease and other ailments.


(CZ)