Senator Frist supporting bill to enlarge federal funding of stem cell research

According to the New York Times on July 29, Senate Republican leader, Bill Frist, has decided to support a bill to expand federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, which could push the bill closer to passage. [House version of the bill is sponsored by Representative Michael N. Castle, Republican of Delaware.]

Stem cells cannot be obtained without destroying human embryos, which opponents of the research say is tantamount to murder. "An embryo is nascent human life," Mr. Frist says in his speech for July 29, adding: "This position is consistent with my faith. But, to me, it isn't just a matter of faith. It's a fact of science."

Separately, if the federal government were to enhance funding for stem cell research, there would be impact on the various state-sponsored initiatives, which grew in the face of the earlier federal restrictions. The way intellectual property plays out is likely different between the state areas and the federal area (controlled by the Bayh-Dole Act).