The president?s veto on legislation intended to expand embryonic stemcell research leaves Maryland playing a significant role in the future of the field.

The General Assembly approved $15 million in stem cell funding this spring, compared to $90 million of federal funding over the past five years. Federal funding is limited to 21 “lines,” or cultures, of stem cells that existed in 2001, whereas Maryland?s funding will be allocated to any worthy research by the Maryland Stem Cell Funding Commission, which begins meeting later this month.