MADISON, Wis. -- Local researchers said they were encouraged Thursday by a vote in Congress on a bill that would increase federal funding for stem cell research.

The bill was passed by lawmakers in the House of Representatives, but the vote of 253-174 was not enough to override the president's promised veto.

The bill was No. 3 on the Democrats' priority list once they took control of Congress. The vote was closely watched by researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where stem cell research is a crown jewel.

Despite the outcome of the vote, UW-Madison researchers said they are still optimistic and that they are encouraged that more people are talking about the topic. They said they hope that translates to more votes the next time around.

Dr. Mike Cardwell, whose son Jack has type 1 diabetes, said he's hopeful that stem cell research will help improve his son's quality of life.

"Before (Jack) gets into the pool tonight, he knows his blood sugar, how much he'll exercise and how much he'll burn off, and what his numbers should be then and when he's out," Cardwell said.

Cardwell said Jack is connected to an insulin pump except while in the water for swimming practice. His family said it hopes he won’t always have to live this way.

"Of all the diseases mentioned with stem cells as a therapeutic target, diabetes has the most potential," Cardwell said.

Dr. Ian Duncan, a UW-Madison neuroscience researcher, said that stem cells do hold potential but that limited federal funding is delaying the end result.

"The more people we have working on the topic, the more money we have for materials and supplies, the quicker you can get on (and) the greater the progress," Duncan said. "There's a clear and obvious target, and all the scientific proof is present. All we need is enough human cells, and we're ready for a phase I clinical trial."

But Duncan said to get to that point, more money is needed.

For families like the Cardwells, that funding can't come quickly enough.

"It's a no-brainer as a parent that if this is something that gives your kid hope and frees them from the life they lead, it's something to support," Caldwell said.

Gabriela Cezar, another UW-Madison researcher, said the federal funds have another impact -- fewer people going into the business, which could also limit potential cures.

Duncan said that the 21 stem cell lines researchers have now are getting old and were grown on animal cultures, which makes them not suitable for human testing.

Groups opposed to increased stem cell funding said they are happy to hear Bush say he will veto the bill, adding that using human embryos in the name of science has been and always will be gravely immoral.