WASHINGTON — A federal judge yesterday denied a motion to lift an injunction he issued two weeks ago barring the government from funding research involving human embryonic stem cells.
US Chief District Judge Royce Lamberth rejected a request by the Obama administration to lift the temporary injunction he had issued pending an appeal of the decision. But Lamberth indicated that his injunction was less restrictive than had been interpreted by the administration.
“Defendants are incorrect about much of their ‘parade of horribles’ that will supposedly result from this court’s preliminary injunction,’’ Lamberth wrote. The ruling did not necessarily apply to research that had been funded under guidelines issued during the Bush administration or that had previously been “awarded and funded,’’ Lamberth wrote. He also indicated that he could make a final decision on the case soon.
Nevertheless, the decision disappointed supporters of the research, who are seeking a continuation of funding under new, much less restrictive guidelines that the Obama administration had put in place until the case is finally decided.
Lamberth issued the injunction Aug. 23 in a case brought by two researchers who work on alternatives to the cells. He ruled that the funding violated a federal law that bars tax money from being used for any research involving the destruction of human embryos.
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