Europe strikes deal on stem-cell funding

* A final deal appears to have been struck by European research ministers over the funding of stem-cell studies with European money. The row has been holding up approval of the Sixth Framework Programme on research.

Ministers have agreed a compromise that will order the European Commission to develop new rules on research using human embryos and stem cells, to be approved by December 2003. In the meantime, Brussels will finance only experiments involving banked or isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture.

Funding will not be provided for research aimed at human reproductive cloning, modifying the genetic structure of human beings or the creation of human embryos solely for research or stem-cell procurement.