# Lifting Limits on Stem Cell Research

> Reversed Bush-era restrictions, allowing federal funding for expanded embryonic stem-cell research. Executive order signed March 9.

Barack Obama · Healthcare · Executive Order · EO 13505 · Mar 9, 2009
Official record: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-5441

## What happened

Reversed Bush-era restrictions, allowing federal funding for expanded embryonic stem-cell research.

## How it happened

Executive order signed March 9, 2009 directing NIH to support the research.

## Documented impact

- [positive / substantiated] Expanded federally funded biomedical research. — Opened federal support to many more stem-cell lines, broadly welcomed by the scientific community.
- [negative / contested] Opposed on ethical and religious grounds. — Some religious and pro-life groups objected to research using human embryos.

## Sources

- [Federal Register: EO 13505](https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-5441)

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