Wisconsin will soon play home to all stem-cell lines across the nation.

The National Institutes of Health decided it would be beneficial to house all 22 existing stem-cell lines in one location, and they have chosen the University of Wisconsin; more specifically WiCell, a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. We applaud the NIH's decision and also congratulate the University of Wisconsin for receiving the lines.

Such a decision makes perfect sense; after all, UW Professor James Thompson was the first to isolate human embryonic stem cell lines in 1998, and UW-Madison has been a pioneer in stem-cell research ever since.

While the research has continued, the Paul Barrows debacle coupled with several felonious professors have caused trying times for the university in recent weeks. However, the NIH clearly holds UW-Madison in such high esteem as to allow it to possess lines that are so critical to stem cell research.

The announcement also comes shortly after the state legislature passed a bill banning cloning, a measure that would deal a fatal blow to Wisconsin stem-cell research. Though Governor Jim Doyle is likely to implement his veto power, the NIH's decision to trust UW-Madison speaks volumes about how respected the university is in academia, regardless of its reputation in the halls of the capitol.

While stem cells remain an intensely debated topic in the political realm, the economic ramifications this decision could have on the university and the state are immeasurable. The NIH reportedly compensated UW-Madison with more than $16 million for four years, and the university will receive a small stipend whenever outside research groups wish to experiment with the stem cells. Consolidating the lines in one location is also expected to reduce the costs of overall stem-cell research.

Love 'em or hate 'em, all the stem cells in the nation will soon be concentrated in the halls of the university, and these microscopic cells could generate millions for the state and improve the university's prestige.