President Obama began freeing American science from the ideological handcuffs fastened by his predecessor, George Bush, when he lifted a ban on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

Mr Obama signed a presidential order that paves the way for the use of taxpayer money in experiments that could cure ailments ranging from diabetes to paralysis.

“Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident,” Mr Obama said at White House ceremony attended by prominent scientists and disabled people.

His decision, which fulfils a campaign commitment, reverses a prohibition on the use of taxpayers’ money for research on stem cell lines taken from human embryos created after 2001. Mr Obama also urged Congress to ease similar legislative restrictions imposed 13 years ago.

A separate presidential memorandum signed yesterday promises to “develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making”. The Bush Administration had been widely criticised for politicising science on issues ranging from climate change to protecting endangered species.

Mr Obama said that his decision would allow scientists “to do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion” and ensure that the Government listens to them “even when it’s inconvenient - especially when it’s inconvenient.” He added: “It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda - and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.”

Mr Bush, who regarded embryonic stem cell research as the destruction of human life, sought to drive a wedge between “pro-life” religious conservatives and Democrats holding more liberal or secular positions.

Public opinion has, however, been shifting towards support for stem cell research with high profile proponents including former First Lady Nancy Reagan and the late actor Christopher Reeve, to whom Mr Obama paid tribute yesterday.

Mr Obama still tread a careful line through the political minefield of the so-called culture wars: “When it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our Government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent.

“As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.”

He promised to develop strict guidelines preventing misuse or abuse. “And we will ensure that our Government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society,” he said.

Eric Cantor, a senior Republican Congressman, said that Mr Obama was showing a strange sense of priority by picking a fight with the Religious Right at a time when the economy was in freefall. “Let’s take care of business first,” he said. “People are out of jobs.”

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