Throughout the history of stem cell research there have been several breakthroughs. Most often than not, the breakthroughs have brought on an array of new and important medical procedures that will one day change the way we know the medical field. 

One such breakthrough is that of the Geron Corporation."Geron Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance of the company's Investigational New Drug application for the clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in patients with acute spinal cord injury."(http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1148). What this allows is the Geron Corporation to test a human embryonic Stem Cell on a human being, to attempt to fix spinal cord injuries. This is actually the first time embryonic stem cells have been used on a human; usually they are used on animals.

 If these trials prove positive, they could lead to more federal funding, more trials, and more availability.