Back in March, President Obama announced a change in policy that would allow government-funded researchers to use federal money to pursue research on embryonic stem cells. In the same speech, he set forth a list of principles that would guide science decision-making during his administration. Now, the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Science and Technology Policy are seeking input from the public as they attempt to implement these rules. But the administration is not standing still, as Obama used a speech to the National Academies of Science to announce additional science initiatives.

Stem cell policy

First, the stem cell policy. Researchers will still be unable to use federal money to derive new human embryonic stem cells, as a Congressional ban called the Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibits that. Still, federal money will eventually flow to those who are working with any cell lines that adhere to the draft guidelines. These guidelines focus on the process of deriving cell lines from embryos created for IVF, but not implanted. The gist seems to be that the NIH wants to ensure that the donors of any such embryos are fully aware of alternative options, and are choosing to provide them for research in the absence of any inducement or duress.

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