Did Obama have something to do with it? Im honestly asking since I dont know. I just find it hard to believe the he bacame president only a few days ago to attribute this to him as this has been an ongoing issue for years. Taken from CNN " Federal research funds were prohibited for embryonic stem-cell research until August 2001, when Bush approved spending for research using only already-existing cell lines. Scientists later discovered that fewer than two dozen of those lines were useful for research, but abortion opponents opposed any legislation that would lift Bush's restrictions, and Bush twice vetoed congressional efforts to roll back his rules. President Obama is expected to loosen the restrictions, which many researchers and advocates have complained severely set back work toward curing disease such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes." It says obama is set to loosen restrictions but nothing about him being the reason for the current approval. Like I said, Im just asking, I dont have any idea. Im all for stem cell research.