Stem cell funding announced ahead of July summit

In what should prove an interesting point of discussion at the upcoming Australian Stem Cell Summit on July 30 and 31 in Melbourne, the federal government has awarded $46 million to scientists for human embryo stem-cell research.

The announcement also came in the lead up to a parliamentary vote on how far such experimentation should be allowed to proceed.

The five year funding package was awarded to the Monash-based Centre for Stem Cells and Tissue Repair, headed by Professor Alan Trounson, and has been welcomed by medical researchers and patient-advocacy groups.

While opposition to the research continues, Prof. Trounson said he would be surprised and disappointed if human embryo research was blocked.

Critics argue it is unethical because six-day-old embryos are destroyed to extract the cells. They argue that research should be limited to adult stem cells.

Under the funding, research will be conducted in to diseases such as blindness, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, motor neurone disease, heart failure and diabetes.