A federal appeals court on Thursday permitted federal funding of embryonic stem cell research to proceed for now, while it considers a judge’s ruling that had temporarily shut off the funds.

The government is asking the appeals court in Washington to strike down a preliminary order by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, which blocked federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

The three-member appeals panel says it is suspending Lamberth’s ruling for now. The judges say they want more time to deal with issues in the government’s appeal.

Lamberth rejected the administration’s request to let funding continue while it pursues an appeal of his order.

The appeals court said the purpose of its administrative stay was to give the judges sufficient opportunity to consider the merits of the Justice Department’s emergency motion, which seeks to suspend Lamberth’s ruling.

Thursday’s move “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits” of the Justice Department’s motion, the appeals judges said in their three-paragraph order.

Twenty-two embryonic stem cell projects across the country were scheduled to receive new checks in September, and thus were presumed to be planning to stop work when their money ran out.

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

Some medical researchers value embryonic stem cells because they can turn into any tissue of the body, and research could lead to cures for spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and other ailments.

On the other hand, there are many medical researchers that would rather put greater time and resources into adult stem cell research, alleging such research is ethically acceptable, also provides cures, and has already shown results.

Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical Association, one of the plaintiffs in the case currently being discussed, told WORLD 1,200 studies are currently being conducted with adult stem cells, whereas the first was only recently approved for embryonic stem cell research.

“Listen, we’ve been at this 12 years with embryonic stem cell research, and we haven’t seen one patient treated,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.