The fate of embryonic stem cell research funding is in the hands of...

Thanks to UC Davis stem cell scientist and CIRM grantee Paul Knoepfler for ferreting out the three judges who will preside over the September 27 D.C. Circuit Court hearing regarding the August 23 injunction on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

In his blog entry, Knoepfler writes that of the three judges one is a Clinton appointee and two were appointed by Bush Jr.

After some speculation about the outcome of this hearing, Knoepfler goes on to say:

However, keep in mind, as far as I understand the process, even a longer-term stay will only allow ES cell research to proceed until Lamberth makes a final ruling in the case and as we've said before, be assured he will against ES cell research. The questions are when will he rule, what happens then, and will a law already have been passed making the whole thing moot?

Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate that would secure the legality of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research

A.A.