The government can continue funding embryonic stem cell research, the US federal court of appeal ruled on Friday. The decision, which was applauded by many scientists, handed an important victory to the administration of President Obama.

The 2-to-1 decision was made by a panel of judges from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. It blocks a decision done by the lower court last August, saying stem cell research is an illegal activity under the law that forbids funding on research, which destroys or damages human embryos.

Some proponents of anti-abortion believe that stem cell research is similar to the act of murder as it destroys human embryos, which are donated from fertility treatments, in the process.

However, the court of appeals said on Friday that the law does not extend to past actions as it is written in the present tense. Still, researchers have applauded the decision of the appellate court, saying it offers wider approach for scientists who might find cure for different diseases such as diabetes, blindness and paralysis.

The director of UCSF’s Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine, Arnold Kriegstein, said the ruling is not only a victory for the scientists, but is also for the patients who have waited long enough to find cures for their terrible diseases.

He said it allows a significant research to move forward and to continue studies on medical therapies, which could possibly save several lives. Last year, trials on human embryonic stem cell were launched by private companies in order to treat blindness and paralysis.