NIH Orders Halt to All ESC Research
The National Institutes of Health Monday ordered all of its researchers conducting research on human embryonic stem cells to immediately halt their experiments.
The move came in response to a temporary injunction by a federal judge barring the federal government from funding research involving human embryonic stem cells.
NIH Director Francis Collins was forced to shelve any requests for new funding for the research from scientists at universities, colleges, research institutes and elsewhere around the country as well as all internal projects.
- Researchers who had grants that had been awarded before the ruling could keep working. But the NIH would not renew any grants that have already been awarded when they come up for renewal,
- The NIH has 8 research projects that use human embryonic stem cells, as well as a unit that characterizes lines added to the NIH registry of approved cells.
The text of the NIH e-mail:
- “HHS has determined that the recent preliminary injunction ordered by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the matter of Sherley v. Sebelius is applicable to the use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in intramural research projects. In light of this determination, effective today 8/27/10, all intramural scientists who use hESC lines should initiate procedures to terminate these projects. Procedures that will conserve and protect the research resources should be followed”. (HWM and Washington Post)
