MIAMI -- Researchers in South Florida hope a new administration in Washington will mean new scientific advances, especially in stem cell research.

"There's a lot of excitement," said Dr. Ian McNiece, Director of Experimental and Clinical Based Therapies at the University of Miami's Stem Cell Institute. "Breakthroughs are possible."

Stem cell research was limited eight years ago, when President George W. Bush signed an executive order limiting federal funding for research, forcing scientists to seek out private donors or to turn to corporations to continue their work.

President-elect Barack Obama has promised to reverse Bush's order, which many said slowed progress on curing spinal cord injuries and diseases like Parkinson's.

"This executive order banning stem cell research has partially handcuffed researchers," said Marc Buoniconti, president of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. "(It) has not allowed us to have the full repertoire of funding, and that has held us back."

Scientists said lifting the ban would have an immediate effect on South Florida research labs, where stem cell work has been strictly regulated to conform with the federal ban.

It will "make running the lab much easier," said Dr. McNiece. "Make it much more cost effective."

But many worry the freedom to do stem cell research comes with a cost -- the economic downturn that has limited funding for research of any kind.

"The more money we can get into the budget, the quicker we can all get out of these wheelchairs," said Buoniconti, who has used a wheelchair since a severe spinal cord injury in 1985.