Harvard had supported federal funding for all embryonic stem cell research—it was a founding member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, whose goal has been to lobby for stem cell funding.

Melton has been the most outspoken faculty advocate for federal funding. On Tuesday, Melton wrote an editorial in the Wall Street Journal with former Director of the NIH and President of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Harold Varmus, laying out their vision for how the scientific community should go forward from Bush’s political decision.

Melton and Varmus concluded that even if questions about the cells viability are answered, efforts to ammend Bush’s decision should continue. “If all goes well...will the president’s ruling ultimately need amendment?” Varmus and Melton wrote.

“We think so. Even 100 good lines will likely be inadequate to treat our genetically diverse population without encountering immune rejection,” they wrote.

Harvard’s position was developed out of meetings with the research deans—Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Jeremy R. Knowles, Dean of the Medical School Joseph P. Martin, and Dean of the School of Public Health Barry R. Bloom—in consultation with other top administrators.

“It was understood to be a politically controversial issue,” Corlette said. “It was agreed that Harvard should regard this as an issue that involves freedom of inquiry.”

At the moment, few researchers at Harvard are involved in embryonic stem cell research despite its promise.