RESEARCH being carried out in Bristol into the medical use of adult stem cells to help multiple sclerosis sufferers is being funded by the Catholic Church.

The church is opposed to embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of embryos, but it supports the use of adult stem cells, which are found in the bodies of all humans.

In "an inspiring expression of confidence and optimism", £25,000 has been awarded by Catholic parishioners to Bristol professor Neil Scolding, who is undertaking important ethical stem cell research.

The University of Bristol Institute of Clinical Neurosciences received the funding for the research at Frenchay Hospital.

Professor Scolding supports the church in the view that "the taking of stem cells from human embryos is ethically indefensible".

He said: "We are delighted with this contribution to our bone marrow stem cell research programme relating to multiple sclerosis.

"Not only is it a substantial help in funding our work, but an inspiring expression of confidence and optimism in what we are doing.

"We firmly believe bone marrow cells could have a valuable therapeutic impact in MS, and both our clinical trial work and our laboratory research are geared towards exploring, developing and maximising this effect – which we hope in the future will also apply to other neurodegenerative diseases.

"Our immediate aims are to plan and carry out a further larger clinical trial in MS, again using patients' own bone marrow cells, and in parallel to expand our laboratory studies so as to understand how to optimise the use of these cells."

Bristol Catholic priest Father Michael McAndrew has supported the grant.

He said: "These grants are the result of donations given on the annual Day for Life."