January 26, 2001

Confirmation Is Sealed, but Questions Linger About Thompson and Stem-Cell Studies

By RON SOUTHWICK

It is all but certain that Gov. Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin will become the next secretary of health and human services. What is less clear is whether he will endorse federal spending on embryonic stem-cell research, a field with great promise for scientific breakthroughs.

Mr. Thompson is in an unusual position: He opposes abortion but supports research on stem cells derived from human embryos. Most opponents of abortion detest the study of such cells, because the embryo must be