Cambridge, England, Feb 29, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Harvard University will launch the largest privately funded embryonic stem-cell research project to date, reported the Boston Sunday Globe.
The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, which will be launched at a scientific conference April 23, will fundraise about $100 million.
Embryonic stem-cell research has been the center of much debate and controversy in government and in the scientific community since it requires the destruction of human embryos, a procedure condemned by the Catholic Church and pro-life organizations.
President George W. Bush’s policy of limiting federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research based on ethical considerations has not prevented several U.S. universities from moving ahead with the research and raising private funding.