London, England (LifeNews.com) — While pro-life advocates have repeated the mantra for years that embryonic stem cell research hasn’t helped a single patient while adult stem cells have already been used in humans afflicted with dozens of diseases, a leading scientist in England is beginning to admit defeat.

Lord Patel of Dunkeld, the chairman of the UK National Stem Cell Network and a chancellor at Dundee University, says embryonic stem cell research is simply not working. He conceded in an interview with the Scotsman newspaper that the controversial science may never deliver new treatments for diseases.

“In terms of embryonic stem cell therapy, there is currently no such therapy that is available in a large number of patients,” he said.

Patel also admitted scientists may never be able to overcome the hurdles — such as the development of tumors or immune syndrome rejection issues — that plague embryonic stem cell research and make it risky in humans.

“We have to be cautious,” he told the Scotsman. “It may not deliver therapy for anything. We may find that stem therapy is quite a risky business.” Full story at LifeNews.com.