Biomedical organisations urge EU to keep funding stem cell research

A group of UK-based research funders and lobby groups, including the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, has urged the European Parliament and member states to continue funding stem cell research in Horizon 2020. The organisations said on 15 June that stem cell research would be crucial for developing new treatments for widespread diseases. The Commission has permitted stem cell research in its Horizon 2020 proposal according to the rules of the country in which the research is carried out, but this has come under fire from more conservative member states and pro-life MEPs.