NIH: Some stem cell projects to continue, dozens of others halted after judge’s ruling

NIH: Some stem cell work OK despite court ruling

WASHINGTON — The government says dozens of stem cell experiments will continue, despite a judge’s ruling blocking taxpayer funding of the work, because the money already is in scientists’ hands.

But National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said dozens more studies of promising stem cell therapies — about $54 million worth — will have to stop because of the court ruling that temporarily forbids any additional money from being granted.

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the stem cell research violated the will of Congress in prohibiting the destruction of human embryos.

The Obama administration is debating how to respond. But Collins said the decision jeopardizes the hunt for needed new treatments just as it was gaining speed.