The director of the National Institutes of Health said Monday that the nation would be better served if federally funded scientists had access to new colonies of embryonic stem cells for research.

Elias Zerhouni, testifying at a Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, separated himself from the Bush administration’s position on such research and perhaps put himself on a path toward unemployment.

Responding to a question from subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, about whether he believes scientists would have a greater opportunity to discover cures for diseases if President Bush’s funding restrictions were lifted, Zerhouni said, “I think the answer is yes.”

He added, “It’s not possible for me to see how we can continue the momentum of science and research with the stem cell lines we have at NIH that can be funded.”

Bush issued an order in 2001 that allows federal funding of embryonic stem cell research only on lines created before Aug. 9 of that year. The administration opposes using federal dollars to fund research on new embryonic lines, and Bush is opposed to it on moral grounds. In 2006, he used the only veto of his presidency to kill legislation that would have expanded such funding.

Zerhouni’s testimony appeared to be at odds with that policy, however.

“It is in the best interest of our scientists, our science, and our country that we find ways, that the nation finds a way to go full-speed across adult and embryonic stem cells equally,” Zerhouni told the panel.

“From my standpoint,” he added, “it is clear today that American science will be better served, and the nation would be better served, if we let our scientists have access to more cell lines.”

Asked whether Zerhouni’s testimony is a break with administration policy, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, “If that’s what he’s saying, then I believe it is.”

Zerhouni’s statements came just weeks before the Senate is expected to vote on a bipartisan bill (HR 3) that is identical to the measure Bush vetoed. A spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he plans to bring the measure to the floor after the spring recess.

Before Zerhouni was confirmed by a Democratic-majority Senate in 2002, he won praise for his support of embryonic stem cell research and commitment to nonpartisan pursuit of scientific research.

He had served as executive vice dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was chairman of its Department of Radiology and Radiological Science.

Zerhouni has expressed support for such research before, but he did so within the bounds of administration policy.

Anti-abortion groups have strongly supported the administration’s policy against new embryonic stem cell lines. They liken the research to abortion because it destroys embryos, and they say it is not only unethical but also unproven.

One such group, the Family Research Council, strongly criticized Zerhouni.

“Frankly, it seems to me that it’s unfortunate that Dr. Zerhouni is basically attacking the president’s policy right before a Senate vote on stem cells,” said David Christensen, the group’s director of congressional affairs. “Dr. Zerhouni has said in the past that these lines are sufficient for basic research. I want to know what’s changed.”

Asked whether Zerhouni should step down, Christensen said, “I’m not going to directly respond to that.”

In a statement of administration policy issued Jan. 11, the White House repeated its opposition to the House legislation. “The bill would compel all American taxpayers to pay for research that relies on the intentional destruction of human embryos for the derivation of stem cells,” it reads.

The administration believes scientists can use other avenues for research, such as harvesting adult stem cells or those from umbilical cord blood.

Zerhouni said he disagrees with the effectiveness of some of those methods.

“The presentations about adult stem cells holding as much or more potential than embryonic stem cells, in my view, do not hold scientific water,” he said. “I think they are overstated.”

The administration policy statement also said funding from the private sector and from states for embryonic stem cell research “argues against the notion of any urgent shortfall of research funding,” and that federal subsidies are unnecessary.

Zerhouni disagreed with that position as well. “To sideline the NIH on an issue of such importance is shortsighted,” he said.

He did not respond to questions after the hearing, and the NIH declined to comment.

Arlen Specter, R-Pa., an abortion rights supporter, was the only other senator at Monday’s hearing.