The University of Nebraska should not put in place tighter restrictions on embryonic stem cell research than are called for under state and federal law, the school's president told the Board of Regents on Friday after listening to more than an hour of commentary on the subject.

Embryonic stem cell research has great potential to cure disease and there is no need to place further restrictions on University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers, school President J.B. Milliken said. "I strongly believe it is the right thing to do."

An anti-abortion rights group, Nebraska Right to Life, had called for the school to make changes. It also called for protesters to attend the regents meeting and about six people rallied outside.

The group's executive director, Julie Schmit-Albin, was among several people who spoke at the meeting. She questioned the medical center's ties to groups that support embryonic stem cell research, pointing out that two such groups, Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures and BioNebraska, partnered with the medical center on a public education effort.

Schmit-Albin said those types of affiliations "provide the catalyst for ballot initiatives" intended to overturn state law restricting embryonic stem cell research.

Richard Holland, chairman and founder of the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, told The Associated Press that his group has no plans to pursue a ballot initiative. He said it would only be considered if the regents were to ban embryonic stem cell research.

A 2008 Nebraska law prohibits the use of state money or facilities for creating or destroying embryos for stem cell research using a technique commonly referred to as therapeutic cloning. The measure was a last-minute compromise between abortion opponents and those who support the research.

On Friday, Milliken pointed to the compromise and the assumption that its passage would end the debate over embryonic stem cell research in Nebraska as justification for the university to stand firm on its policy.

His stance drew the ire of abortion foes who said passage of the law did not limit their ability to seek a stricter policy from the university.

Earlier this year, President Obama removed government funding restrictions imposed in 2001 by his predecessor, George W. Bush. Scientists can now apply for federal funds for research on new stem cell lines.

Researchers study embryonic stem cells, master cells that can morph into any cell of the body, in hopes of developing cures to diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Researchers have come under fire because isolating the cells destroys embryos. Opponents of the research believe embryos are the starting point of human life and that destroying them is immoral.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center does not clone human embryos for reproductive purposes or to harvest stem cells for research on disease cures. Three teams have been conducting research on approved stem cell lines, including studies of the liver, emphysema and stem cell mechanics.