Despite curbs, feds increase stem cell funds

Despite controversial federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, federal support for the field grew 60 percent in 2005, to $37 million. President Bush's decision to limit federal support to existing stem cell lines had triggered alarm that the U.S. would become laggards in the research area. The government had identified 60 supplies of existing embryonic stem cells it would continue to fund research on, but only a half dozen lines are actually available to U.S. researchers. Some 154 projects were funded last year, including a $4.2 million national stem cell bank in Madison, WI.

- here's the Wall Street Journal article (sub. req.)