San Diego's medical research community has seen yet another sharp turn of federal policy on stem cells. A judge has stopped federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
"Turmoil" is the word Larry Goldstein uses to describe the ruling's effect on his lab. Goldstein is director of the UCSD stem cell program.
Yesterday Federal Judge Royce Lamberth said federal funding of any research into embryonic stem cells violates a law that is meant to protect human embryos. Scientists say embryonic stem cells are the most versatile stem cells for medical research.
Goldstein said the judge's decision contradicts all previous interpretations of the law.
"It overturns what has really been 10 years of settled policy through two administrations of remarkably different political stripes," he said.
Goldstein is seeking legal advice to determine the full effect of the judge's injunction, which may be reversed once the lawsuit goes to trial.
