Stem cell research is one of one of the most controversial pieces of medical research today. Today, both distinct types of stem cell research - embryonic and adult - received support that will potentially expand and improve the cash now available and results of medical study. The National Institutes of Health released new embryonic guidelines, when the Vatican -- yes, the Catholic Vatican -- has announced it will help fund research.

The promise of stem cell research

For good reason, stem cell research is a very emotionally loaded topic. Many medical researchers call stem cells the best chance medicine has to do every little thing from regrow damaged body parts to curing a multitude of diseases. A stem cell is a cell that is nevertheless in an "undefined" state and has the potential of becoming any type of cell in the body. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos created by fertility treatments that would not otherwise be used. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are harvested then "forced" to regress into stem cells.

NIH guidelines for embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem cell research is a very difficult question for the government. In 2001, the president limited federal research funding to a very small number of embryonic stem cell research lines already in existence. This left 21 lines of embryonic stem cell research accessible. When he lifted this ban when first gaining office, President Obama also put strong ethical needs in place. The new stem cell research guidelines indicate that embryonic stem cells must be donated by couples that are "fully informed of other options".

NIH approves additional lines

Though the ethical guidelines were stronger, there were many questions about which stem cell lines would be allowable under the National Institutes of Health guidelines. This morning, the NIH announced that 13 additional lines had been approved for embryonic stem cell research, including four lines that account for almost 90 percent of stem cell research publications between 1999 and 2008.

Adult stem cell research to be funded by the Vatican

The Catholic Vatican announced this morning that they would be funding adult stem cell research. The Vatican chose the Intestinal Stem Cell Consortium to receive funding. Intestinal stem cells are adult stem cells from the intestine that might prove especially useful. In the Vatican announcement, the church highlights that they nevertheless believe embryonic stem cell research is "gravely immoral". The Director of the Stem Cell Transplantation Program in Boston's Children's Hospital reacted to the announcement with a mix of emotions. "I applaud the Vatican for funding any type of research, but this is another attempt to pit adult stem cells against embryonic when the two are used in very different ways and have potential for different conditions."

Resources for the article

Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/27/A R2010042703360.html

ABC News

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/vatican-backs-stem-cell-res earch/story?id=10447981