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The state has awarded grants to three Nebraska research institutions for nonembryonic stem cell research.
The funding is tied to a legislative compromise reached last year.
The Stem Cell Research Act says no state money or facilities will be used to destroy human embryos for research.
The law also provides grants to encourage nonembryonic stem cell research. The grants are funded with the state's tobacco lawsuit settlement funds.
Stem cells taken from days-old embryos have been prized by researchers because some believe that they can become any type of cell in the human body.
Supporters of such research say the cells may hold the key to treating diseases such as diabetes or Alzheimer's. Opponents say embryos are human beings and should not be destroyed, no matter how noble the goal.
Grants of $150,000 each are going to three researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; two at Creighton University School of Medicine; and one at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Tom Murray, associate dean for research at Creighton University School of Medicine, said the grants fit with Creighton's policy against human embryonic stem cell research.
The Creighton researchers will use the grant money for research on stem cells from mice. The research is aimed at developing strategies to treat deafness.
UNMC's research will use adult human stem cells. One of the projects is aimed at fixing certain vision problems.
The grants were recommended by the state's Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee. The committee consists of the deans of the UNMC and Creighton medical schools and four scientists from outside the state.
Contact the writer:
444-1122, michael.oconnor@owh.com
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