Check small room as focus of bio-research (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
stem cell
'focus of bio-research' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'check small room' is the wordplay.
'check' becomes 'stem' (both can mean to control or stop).
'small room' becomes 'cell' (eg a prison cell).
'stem'+'cell'='STEM CELL'
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stem cell that I've seen before include "genetic unit" , "Undifferentiated functional unit in an organism" , "Generalised producer in living organism" , "body-builder" , "Versatile building block of life" .)