Anti-Abortion groups are opposing regulations announced on Wednesday by the Clinton administration regarding guidelines for stem cell research. They say the federally funded research goes against a 1996 law that prohibits federal funds from supporting research that involves the death or injury to human embryos. However, the Clinton Administration guidelines allow for federal research to be performed on fertility clinics’ surplus embryos.
The regulations are drawing praise from 25 medical researchers, ranging from the American Medical Association to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Supporters are saying that the potential of stem cell research is incredible and could lead to major medical breakthroughs including restoring function to damaged heart, brain and spinal cord cells and curing diabetes and cancer.