Vatican finances adult stem cell research led by American university

Vatican finances adult stem cell research

ROME — The Vatican says it will finance new research into the potential use of adult stem cells in the treatment of intestinal and possibly other diseases.

Officials say the project is at a very preliminary phase and it will be years before any clinical treatment might be available.

Project officials said Friday the Vatican has agreed to donate €2 million ($2.7 million) to the research, which is led by the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine.

The church is opposed to embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of embryos, but it supports the use of adult stem cells.