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The European Science Foundation publishes policy briefing for human stem cell research
June 25, 2001The policy paper recommends the permission of studies of stem cells from embryos and adults, reproductive cloning should not be permitted, but therapeutic cloning should be allowed.
There are many chronic, serious and disabling human diseases such as, Parkinson's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis and Huntington's Chorea, for which there are no current therapies. The scientific study of stem cells has raised new hopes for the treatment by a number of applications. Animal work has already demonstrated what might be achieved, with the result that a number of scientists are already investigating the properties of human stem cells. This work is in an early stage, but it is creating unease because of ethical and moral issues involved.
ESF recognises the major ethical concerns that surround this area of research. It recommends that all work on human stem cells should be regulated. In this context the scientific community is engaged in a proactive approach to the ethical questions in many of the European countries.
As shown in the tables of the ESF position paper, there are major differences in the legislative framework between countries concerning human stem cell research. The ESF urges all European countries to introduce legislation and regulation to oversee and control the laboratories concerned, the scientists involved and the experiments that can be performed. Scientific advance is so rapid in this area, that regulation will need to be kept under continual review. ESF recognises that the position differs between countries, and there will be a continual debate on this sensitive issue.
The full version of the ESF paper on Stem cell research can be found on the Internet at: http://www.esf.org/ftp/pdf/2001/Espb/ESPB14.pdf
European Science Foundation (ESF)
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