Scientists working with human embryonic stem cells got the go-ahead Thursday to continue their work, at least temporarily, while a federal appeals court considers a judge’s ruling that halted federal funding of their research.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth’s Aug. 23 ruling blocked federal funding for some stem cell research. That move put millions of dollars of University of Michigan projects at risk. It also prompted the federal government to seek an expedited appeal.

At the University of Michigan, there are 15 researchers with approval from a university oversight committee to conduct human embryonic stem cell research. Not all of those projects have started. 

But a number of them have and are funded by the National Institutes of Health, which announced it would pull the funding plug on 22 projects nationally following Lamberth’s ruling.

The purpose of the temporary order is to give the panel time to consider the merits of the Justice Department's emergency motion seeking to suspend Lamberth's ruling.

In this Dec. 17, 2009 file photo, Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is seen in Washington. An appeals court gave short-term approval Thursday to continue federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

AP Photo | J. Scott Applewhite

Projects at U-M won’t be impacted in the short term, but if Lamberth's ruling sticks, future research will be in jeopardy, according to hospital officials.

U-M research scientist Jack Mosher is one year into a $744,000, two-year project funded by NIH involving the study of Hirschstrung’s disease, a defect in part of the nervous system that regulates gut function. Those who have it are unable or defective in their ability to pass solid waste. If left untreated, it can lead to death.

“My project, because of the timing of my renewal notice, was safe at least for the next year anyway,” Mosher said. “I’m excited to go forward and am excited that everyone else can go forward and that research can proceed, at least for the time being.”

Mosher said he hopes the “roller coaster ride with stem cell research” will end soon.

Researchers value embryonic stem cells for their ability to turn into any tissue of the body. Understanding them could lead to cures for ailments like spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease.

Pro-life groups like Right to Life of Michigan oppose stem cell research because the human embryos are destroyed in the process of culling the stem cells.

While researchers point out the embryos used for research are from fertility clinics and destined to become medical waste, these groups argue there are other options, like embryo adoption.

“The reality is that embryonic stem cell research requires living human embryos to be killed for their stem cells. It is not pro-life to kill one group of human beings in the hope of treating or curing another group of human beings,” Pam Sherstad, the director of public information for Right to Life of Michigan, said in an e-mail to AnnArbor.com.

The appeals judges in the case are Karen LeCraft Henderson, Janice Rogers Brown, and Thomas B. Griffith. Henderson was appointed by George H.W. Bush and Brown and Griffith were appointed by George W. Bush.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Juliana Keeping is a health and environment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter