MADISON, Wis. -- The governor announced Monday the formal collaboration between Wisconsin and the United Kingdom on stem cell research.

Though there is still a lot of controversy over the research the governor and others said that they couldn’t stand in the way of science.

A delegation from the U.K.'s Stem Cell Oversight Committee visited Madison to begin a collaboration of work and ideas in the growing field.

“Getting the two banks here, together today -- the U.S. national bank and the U.K. national bank will be a very important initiation for that process -- to look towards international standards in the future,” said Dr. Glyn Stacey, director of the U.K. stem cell bank.

Leaders of each stem cell bank said they would try to find better ways to get good stem cells to scientists who want them as well as set up quality control standards for international scientists.

Researchers on both sides said that research may not lead to cures overnight, but added that work must start someplace.

“Next month, hopefully next year hopefully the year after but we may not -- and while they’re doing the work it might take five years or 10 years to get that cure but we must maintain that hope,” said Lord Naren Patel, of England’s House of Lords.

Patel said stem cells have already produced some treatments for some blood diseases.

As the delegation toured the Madison-based Wisconsin Cell Institute, Wisconsin's right to life group blasted the governor for focusing on embryonic stem cell research, instead of non-embryonic stem cells.

The U.K. delegation defended the promise of embryonic research, saying people need "hope -- not hype" from critics.

“We’ll have to keep the faith in the science. And we'll have to keep the hope in the public. Eventually we will get there because the evidence is there,” said Patel.

Despite the ongoing ethical battle, scientists on both sides of the Atlantic said they are pleased with the new milestone.

“We do hope this is the start of a very fruitful and a very long collaboration together in stem cell science,” said Patel.