A research into the medical use of adult stem cell is being funded by the Catholic Church. The church, which is against embryonic stem cell research, is approving the adult stem cell.

On Tuesday, a grant of $100,000 was announced by the Sydney Archdiocese.

The money will be presented to a researcher at St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Dr Carl Walkley, on Wednesday.

Dr Walkley's project aims at blood disorders such as leukaemia and cancer. The research would try to improve the success of transplanted adult stem cells in people suffering from blood disorders.

He said, "This will help with our work in understanding adult stem cells, exactly how they work, and what we can do with them. For example we hope to find a way to increase the effectiveness of bone marrow transplants and treat blood disorders."

Until now for treating liver diseases, heart ailments, spinal cord problems and strokes, adult stem cells have already been used.

If Dr Walkley's research is successful then according to Cardinal George Pell, clinical applications could follow rapidly.