Universities Could End Research on Some Federally Eligible Stem-Cell Lines

By Josh Keller

Several top institutions that conduct embryonic stem-cell research are considering ending research on nearly a quarter of the cell lines eligible for federal funds because of new ethical concerns raised about the origin of the lines.

A consensus to ban research on the lines would further limit, from 21 to 16, the number of human embryonic stem cell lines available to researchers supported by federal funds. A policy announced by President Bush in August 2001 restricted federal