The government has decided to approve the first state-funded embryonic research project since the bioethics law was enacted.

After an advisory committee review, the Health and Welfare Ministry gave the green light to Maria Biotech’s project to develop technology for cloning human organs.

Of the 38 local research institutions registered as embryonic research institutions, including Hwang Woo-suk’s team, MB is the first to receive an approval for an individual project.

The project will use frozen embryos to make human embryonic stem cells and to develop them into specific cells.

The MB research team will use the stem cells to experiment on animals in an attempt to find cures for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimers, and spinal diseases.