Tech Search

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted a request from the Justice Department to lift a temporary injunction issued Aug. 23 blocking the funding on the grounds that it violated a law barring funding any research that involves the destruction of human embryos.

While the move was praised by advocates for the research, the appeals court made it clear it was not making a final decision about the case, which means the reprieve could be short-lived and the fate of the funding could continue to be whiplashed by seesawing court rulings.

"The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the merits of the emergency motion for stay and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion," the appeals court wrote in its decision.

Opponents of stem cell funding have until Sept. 14 to file a response, and the government must submit its response by Sept. 20.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, ruling in a lawsuit filed by two researchers working on alternatives to the cells, said the funding violated a federal law known as the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which prohibits federal tax money from being used for research that involves the destruction of human embryos. The ruling stunned scientists, patient advocates and other supporters of the research by throwing millions of dollars in federal funding into question.

Lamberth on Tuesday rejected a request to lift the stay pending an appeal. But the Obama administration appealed that decision to the higher court.

Lamberth's original decision was hailed by opponents of the research, who argue it is immoral to destroy human embryos. It was condemned by supporters, who said it was a major setback for one of the most promising areas of biomedical research.

In response to the order, the National Institutes of Health suspended consideration of any new grants for such research. Scientists who had already received funding could continue, but their grants would not be renewed when they come up for routine review, the NIH said. As a result, hundreds of scientists around the country began scrambling to figure out how they could continue their research. The NIH on Thursday referred questions to the Justice Department, which refused to comment.

In its appeal, the Justice Department argued that the halt to the funding was causing irreparable harm to researchers, the federal government and patients hoping for cures.

"We are very pleased that the Court of Appeals has stayed the preliminary injunction. It is crucial that federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research be restored permanently, and this stay is a step in that direction," said Lisa Hughes, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, a coalition of patient advocacy groups, scientists and research organizations that has lobbied for the funding. "While this issue continues to be argued in the courts, we call on Congress to move swiftly to resolve this issue and secure the future of this important biomedical research."

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who has championed permanently allowing the funding, said she expected Congress would consider legislation that was twice approved but vetoed by then-President George W. Bush.