Todd Unger

OMAHA (KPTM) - In a split four to four vote, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted down a resolution which would have restricted embryonic stem cell research at the University if of Nebraska Medical Center.

Regent Jim McClurg, who is pro–life, ultimately proved the swing vote.  He voted against the measure, which some of the board's other, pro–life members had sponsored.  Five votes in favor of the measure would've made it policy.

Alan Worth, a Multiple Sclerosis patient, says the vote means promise for the 400,000 Americans suffering from his illness.

"Some of the hopes for the university research are those closest to our hearts and souls," he says.

Supporters of the resolution hoped UNMC researchers would put embryonic stem cell research on the back burner, especially because they say adult stem cell research has proved the most promising.

"If you pass this resolution, everything comes without trade–offs," said one woman supporting the resolution.

Ultimately, though, enough regents didn't buy that argument.

McClurg says he thinks LB–606 sufficiently protects embryos in the research process.

The Unicameral passed the law last year.  It outlaws state funds and facilities from cloning or destroying research embryos, but otherwise says federal guidelines should be followed.

Since President Obama took office, his administration has loosened those guidelines, expanding the opportunity for research institutions to look into embryonic research specifically.