Stem cell bid is stalled by lack of funds

stem cell research could grind to a halt because of a lack of funding, scientists warned today.

They said Britain's efforts to lead the world in creating human-animal "hybrid" clones are being threatened by grant applications being blocked.

The technique of fusing human cells with animal eggs could eventually lead to the creation of personalised "body repair kits", to help treat conditions including heart disease, Parkinson's and diabetes.

It is banned from federal government funding in the US, but was legalised in Britain last year by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. But one researcher said funding may have been withheld for "moral reasons".

Only three licence holders are legally permitted to create hybrid embryos, but two of the three have been denied research funds.

Professor Stephen Minger of King's College London said his work had not started a year after getting his licence. He said: "We put in a grant proposal last year but it wasn't successful and we're dead in the water."