Better question: Why does the government fund any research? >>>
you're right about that. I haven't seen anything in the constitution that states the USA must fund private businesses. Something tells me that the government was formed to protect, guarantee and secure our inalienable rights, endowed by the Creator, now where did I ever read that?
But don't you know one of these rights approved by the creator is the right of government to thieve your family's money to spend on this 'research'? /s :)