Within the next few weeks, thermos bottles containing about a hundred donated human embryos—each composed of only a few cells—will arrive at the renovated labs of Douglas A. Melton, Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences.

Packed in vials and frozen in liquid nitrogen, the embryos will be hand-delivered from Boston IVF, a local fertility clinic, according to the facility’s scientific and laboratory director R. Douglas Powers.

Since President George W. Bush restricted embryonic stem cell research last August, approximately 30 couples treated by local fertility clinic Boston IVF chose to donate their leftover embryos to Melton’s lab. Many did so in the hopes of harnessing the enormous potential of the embryonic stem cells—widely recognized for their ability to develop into any other type of cell—to find a treatment for type 1 diabetes, according to Powers.

The one-of-a-kind arrangement between Boston IVF and Harvard will make it possible for Melton to develop new embryonic stem cell lines in the course of his laboratory project.

Once at the lab, the embryos will be thawed and destroyed in the process of isolating stem cells—a controversial action Bush had aimed to prevent by limiting federal funding to research with existing embryonic stem cell lines.

Privately funded research is not restricted, and since Melton only receives private funds he is free to go forward with his new project.

The prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute—a private, nonprofit medical research organization located in Maryland—is footing Melton’s research bill for this particular study.

But because of the highly political nature of stem cell research—and specifically because of new funding restrictions—Melton says he had to “mark off, in a physical and administrative way” the lab that he’ll be using in the coming months.

“Political” Science

Harvard’s commitment to stem cell research began three years ago, when Melton was the first from the molecular and cellular biology department to bring stem cells to the attention of university officials—including Jane Corlette, acting vice president for Government, Community and Public Affairs.

Around the same time, Melton and Powers—who met by chance at a social event—developed a professional relationship and began laying the groundwork for the unique Harvard-Boston IVF agreement to donate leftover embryos to Melton’s research, according to Boston IVF spokesperson Terry Davidson.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, scientists and university officials noted Bush’s anti-stem cell research stance, Corlette says.

After Bush won the election, Harvard’s general interest in stem cells turned into

focused political activity.

Along with government relations officials and scientists from a handful of concerned institutions and advocacy groups, Corlette helped found the Coalition