BEIJING, June 7 (Xinhuanet)-- Scientists at Harvard University and the University of California, San Francisco, were awarded ethical approval and private funds to develop embryonic stem cells from the adult cells of patients Tuesday.

    "The project has been carefully reviewed and the team will follow strict guidelines," Harvard Provost Stephen Hyman told reporters.

    Stepping into a research area marked by controversy and fraud, Harvard University scientists said they are trying to clone human embryos with private funds to create stem cells they hope to help conquer a host of diseases such as diabetes, sickle-cell anemia and leukemia.

    The work has run into ethical objections before. In 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush banned the use of federal research funds for new lines of human embryonic stem cells. And a South Korean scientist who claimed to create 11 lines of embryonic stem cells matched to human patients had faked the results.

    The lab will use donor eggs and embryos left over from in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Enditem

    (Agencies)