The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Chief Judge Royce Lamberth agreed with the with the appeals court’s finding that NIH can interpret Dickey-Wicker to allow funding for research on human embryonic stem cells but not on their derivation because the definition of “research” in the law is ambiguous.
So for now, the suit contesting NIH funding of embryonic stem cell research is out.
PharmTech Talk » Stem Cell Suit Tossed.
Stem cell researchers, their supporters in and out of the science community, and patient advocacy groups are all letting out a sigh of relief. Stephanie Sutter, Assistant to the President and Deputy Senior Advisor, posted yesterday in her blog “For too long, patients and families have suffered from debilitating, incurable diseases and we know that stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans across the country. President Obama is committed to supporting responsible stem cell research and today’s ruling was another step in the right direction.”
This does not prevent another appeal by plaintiffs. Ain't the legal system grand? We may not have heard the end of this for awhile. Of course, if we do not pass a Federal budget, the NIH may not be funding anything.
Posted by Bruce Lehr July 29th 2011.
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