March 9, 2009

Professors at UVa say they have been waiting and preparing for this day since the election in November. They said they are excited because this will advance research at the university.

Not only will President Barack Obama's decision help UVa researchers, it will serve as a benefit for all universities. One UVa law professor said schools everywhere will conduct better research as a result. She said the amount of funding received for studies limited researchers in the past.

UVa will follow guidelines suggested by the National Academy of Science.

"I do want to make it clear that we're not likely to be involved in some of the more contentious areas, which would involve actually deriving the cell lines," said Margaret Foster Riley, a UVa professor of law. "We will be using cell lines that have been derived by other institutions."

The cell lines are derived from embryos, which is why this issue causes controversy. Foster Riley said she hopes the additional research will begin immediately. Eventually, UVa would like to begin clinical stem cell research that will be a benefit to people.

Obama said his order does not include using stem cell research for human cloning, adding that the government will develop and enforce strict guidelines to ensure that.