This Again?  The reopened debate over embryonic-stem-cell
research could stifle many other scientific pursuits. Oct 02,
2010 Volume 10, Issue 34  Michelle Hoffman Just when you thought
the question of federal funding for embryonic-stem-cell (ESC)
research had been settled, along comes a shocking decision by
Royce Lamberth, chief judge of the Federal District Court for
the District of Columbia, to remind you it's not. In August,
Judge Lamberth made a decision that halted all federally funded
ESC research. The decision was made in favor of the plaintiffs,
Drs. James Sherley and Theresa Deisher, in their second attempt
to sue the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and the National Institutes of
Health. The plaintiffs, who work exclusively with adult stem
cells, allege that "obtaining NIH funding is necessary for their
continued research," wrote Judge Lamberth in his decision. The
judge goes on to say that, "allowing federal funding of ESC
research ... increases com