"The more than 60 stem-cell lines are diverse, they're robust, and they're viable for research," announced Tommy G. Thompson, secretary of Health and Human Services, parent department of the NIH. "And we have great confidence that these existing lines will provide for very effective and productive research." Thompson said funding mechanisms will be in place by early next year and predicts a "ballpark" of $100 million in grants will be available. "We expect those grants to be given out very quickly after the first of the calendar year," Thompson said. Current NIH grantees might receive supplemental funding even sooner, assuming the appropriate procedures are in place, NIH spokesman Marc Stern added.
Despite this, officials remain optimistic. "It's a wonderful day for basic research," extolled Lana Skirboll, associate director for science policy at NIH. "We believe the best and the brightest will be now coming to this arena of research. [We're] ...
