The National Institutes of Health awarded two large grants to NeoStem, a New York based adult stem cell research group.
NeoStem's grant money will go toward researching how adult stem cells can treat symptoms of scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder and periodontitis, an inflammatory gum disease according to Life Site News.
The scleroderma project received $147,765 while the periodontitis project was granted $1,221,854. If significant discoveries are made through the scleroderma project, then the group may qualify for up to $1.5 million in grant money.
NeoStem was a cohost of a Vatican stem cell conference in April.
Stem cells help maintain and repair damaged cells in the body. Some scientists believe that embryonic stem cells may be used to treat severe ailments, such as paralysis. However, adult stem cell research has successfully treated numerous conditions.
Since the Catholic Church teaches its followers that life begins at conception, it has strongly opposed embryonic stem cell research and urged the scientific community to focus on finding treatments using adult stem cells.
