PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) announced today that it welcomes the approval yesterday by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the first 13 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines for use in NIH-funded research under the NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research adopted in July 2009. The guidelines implement President Obama’s executive order of March 9, 2009 permitting the federal government, through the NIH, to support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell research holds the potential to advance the understanding of many diseases at a fundamental, cellular level, and may open new avenues for treatments or cures. The Company considers this action by the federal government as a critical first step for the advancement of the stem cell field and for the future practice of medicine.
