ITALIAN STEM CELL research is currently receiving contributions from different research groups, mainly connected to public and private universities and to university hospitals from all over the country. The funding of stem cell research in Italy relies principally on public financial support. Some funds are directly granted by the Ministry of Research, [Page 276]which partially sustains stem cell projects, but the major funding comes from the Ministry of Health, which distributes funds among those groups that have applied through a specifically appointed committee. A total of 7.5 million Euros were provided in 2003–05.