..The on again, off again nature of federal funding for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research has created a great deal of uncertainty for academic scientists, major research medical centers, venture capital investors, biotechnology companies, and state legislatures and economic development officials.

..There is a great deal of concern that this uncertainty is holding back the field, driving innovation and intellectual capital overseas, and creating an unleveled playing field in which only a patchwork of states have been able to create favorable R&D environments for stem cell research...