Stem cell veto threatens university.

PRESIDENT BUSH'S VETO OF THE STEM Cell Research Enhancement Act, his first veto since coming to office, may have dealt a serious brow to university medical researchers.

The veto comes in the face of widespread public and congressional support for lifting the restrictions on stern cell research put in places by Bush in 2001. One problem, say scientists, is that the small fine of stem cells allowed for research since 2001 have mutated in the ensuing years, and they are fast becoming unusable in research. The bill would have expanded the allowable line of stem cells, white protecting against "fetal farming," or harvesting embryos expressly for research purposes. Although the bill had broad support, it appeared that Congress could not muster enough votes to override the veto.

According to the Gallup Poll, a majority of Americans--typically 60 percent or more--favors using stem cells derived from human embryos for medical research.

"The president's decision to veto the bill is a disappointing development, though not unexpected," says Dennis O'Shea, executive director of communications and public affairs at The Johns Hopkins University (Md.), "It prevents us from opening up new avenues of research with federal funding, which affect not just Johns Hopkins, but stem cell researchers across the country, making it more difficult to pursue promising reads in the fight against disease."