Embryonic stem cells are the focus of only four of 14 projects that received $230 million in grants from California's stem cell research program. The other projects use less controversial adult stem cells or conventional drugs designed to kill cancer stem cells, which are believed to give rise to tumors.
Wednesday's announcement about the funding to state universities and companies is seen as tacit acknowledgement that it will be a long time before the full potential of human embryonic stem cells in treating human diseases is achieved, The New York Times reported.
Recipients of the grants are supposed to have a therapy ready for initial human testing within four years.
People don't care about what type of stem cells are used as long as researchers find treatments for diseases such as cancer and AIDS, according to officials of the 10-year, $3 billion program that was launched by California in 2004, The Times reported.