After eight years of frustration, stem cells researcher are celebrating President Barack Obama's breakthrough act last Monday. The United States president lifted restrictions on embryonic stem cells research, reversing his predecessor George W. Bush' ruling in 2001.
Mr Obama's executive order is expected to give a huge boost to stem cells research in the US, which has floundered in the last eight years in comparison with other countries, like the United Kingdom and Singapore. The Bush-era ban restricted collaboration between scientists of different countries, which is a key part of research.
President Bush had restricted the research on religious and moral grounds, arguing that embryos are life. But Mr Obama argued against it, saying: "Our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda — and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."
Stem cells research is seen as the new medical frontier, with hopes that it can cure diseases like macular degeneration. The road ahead is long, but at least a key step in taken in the right direction.
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