AnnArbor.com votes stem cell research at the University of Michigan the #1 health story of 2009...

Here's a look at the top health stories of 2009:

1. University of Michigan and a consortium of state university researchers ramp up for embryonic stem cell research

In December, U-M announced it could finally begin receiving unused embryos and begin deriving new stem cell lines from those embryos after receiving its final approvals.

The announcement came more than a year after voters approved a measure in late 2008 to allow the research, and after months of preparation and development of a program to derive new cell lines. The changes helped earn at least $6.8 million in research grants from the federal stimulus program and attracted the World Stem Cell Summit to Detroit in 2010. Read more at AnnArbor.com.