The federal government's new draft guidelines for funding stem cell research strike a reasonable balance between promoting promising medical research and crossing an ethical line that many Americans might find troubling. The new rules issued by the National Institutes of Health will greatly expand the number of cell lines available for federal support and should help centers of such research, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The NIH proposes to allow federal financing for stem cells derived from embryos left over at fertility clinics. But federal funding still would be prohibited for cell lines created for research and for embryos created by therapeutic cloning. The rules would require that donors give their consent and be informed of alternative options.

The decision, which came after President Barack Obama in March lifted restrictions on federal funding imposed by the Bush administration, drew flak from both sides. It was condemned by opponents who view any such use of embryos as unethical. And some scientists complained that the decision didn't go far enough.

But to us, it seemed thoughtful and measured. Restrictions put in place in 2001 by President George W. Bush limited federal funding to just 21 stem cell lines. Researchers funded privately, in the meantime, have created more than 700 lines. Many of these now may be eligible for public money.

Stem cells were first isolated in 1998 by a team led by James Thomson at UW-Madison. The UW team has since made significant advances using mature cells, but that later work would not have been possible without embryonic stem cell research.

The hope is that someday stem cell therapy might be used to treat debilitating diseases such as Parkinson's disease or to grow cells of specific types that could be used to repair damaged organs.

Raynard S. Kington, acting NIH director, told reporters last week that the agency is deeply aware of the ethical concerns. Nevertheless, "our goal is to advance science. We believe that many more doors will be opened with these guidelines."

So do we. And it's encouraging that Obama and the NIH are putting science ahead of ideology as they navigate these difficult decisions.

REPRINTED FROM THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL.