University of Nebraska regents vote not to further restrict embryonic stem-cell research rules
By Margery A. Beck, APFriday, November 20, 2009
U. of Neb. board votes down stem-cell rule changes
LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska’s governing board on Friday voted down a proposal to restrict the school’s rules governing embryonic stem-cell research beyond what the federal government allows.
The eight-member Board of Regents voted 4-4, defeating the resolution that would have restricted stem cell experiments to cell lines approved under President George W. Bush. President Barack Obama removed government funding restrictions on new stem-cell lines earlier this year.
A majority of votes was needed for a proposal to pass.
Friday’s vote came 20 months after a state law was enacted prohibiting the use of state resources for creating or destroying embryos for research. That law had been a compromise between abortion opponents and University of Nebraska researchers in which abortion foes agreed not to push for further legislation if certain conditions were met.
Some supporters of the researchers have said that agreement extends to the regents. But abortion opponents have said the compromise was never meant to keep them from lobbying the regents for policy changes.
Supporters of stem-cell research hope it will lead to cures for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
