What are the hindrances to scientific research?

Answer 1

Entrenched human thought.
People who refuse to accept, or allow scientific progress.

Lack of funding, lack of support, lack of laboratory space and a whole lot of other factors can impede scientific research, but they all pale in comparison to pure human stubbornness.

AIDS research was slowed, because people thought it was only a gay disease. Some people still don't accept evolution. Others refuse to allow stem cell research, on purely religious grounds. I don't like abortion, and I think that is wrong to make babies just to harvest their stem cells, but "God Fearing" religious people have done it. They have had another child so that the stem cells can be used to treat the older and sicker child. In another words they only allow stem cell work when it benefits them.

Other "god fearing" people have done things like imprison someone for life, just because they found proof that their religious text isn't perfect (Galileo and the Catholic Church).

I am not trying to pick on religious people, but they are the best example of entrenched human thought that has slowed scientific progress.

Answer 2

Culture
Lack of Facilities