National Academies Recommend Embryonic Stem Cell Research Guidelines

The National Academies published a comprehensive set of voluntary guidelines on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, for research involving human embryonic stem cells and called on all funders, professional societies, journals, institutions, and others involved in embryonic stem cell research to require adherence to their recommendations. With federal oversight of this field lacking because of political controversies, the National Academies seeks to fill this void and ensure that private and state-funded human embryonic stem cell research move forward ethically and with integrity. The National Academies developed the guidelines on behalf of the scientific community and without government involvement. The complete report is available online.

“Heightened oversight is essential to assure the public that stem cell research is being carried out in an ethical manner,” said Jonathan D. Moreno, Ph.D., co-chair of the committee that wrote the report. “The oversight we call for will in many instances set a higher standard than required by existing laws or regulations. And while we were hesitant to recommend another bureaucratic oversight entity, the burden in this case is justified, given the novel and controversial nature of embryonic stem cell research.”

“A standard set of requirements for deriving, storing, distributing, and using embryonic stem cell lines—one to which the entire US scientific community adheres—is the best way for this research to move forward,” added ASH Member Richard O. Hynes, Ph.D., the other co-chair of the committee that prepared the report.

The report urged all institutions conducting embryonic stem cell research to establish oversight committees to ensure compliance with the new guidelines. The so-called Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight, or ESCRO, committees would not be replacements for other research compliance bodies such as institutional review boards, the guidelines say. In addition to experts in biology and stem cell research, ESCRO committees should include legal and ethical experts as well as representatives of the public.

Other functions for ESCRO committees would include review of proposals for research that: takes stem cells from excess blastocysts at in vitro fertilization clinics or from blastocysts created expressly for stem cell research; use of blastocysts created by nuclear transfer; generate additional human embryonic stem cell lines by any means.

Public reaction to the new guidelines were mixed. Supporters of embryonic stem cell research appear to view the recommendations favorably. However, many opponents of this line of research took the opportunity to voice their opinion. “These so-called ‘guidelines’ for destructive human embryonic stem cell research try to put a good face on an unethical line of research,” said Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). “We should not be destroying young human lives for the benefit of others.”

ASH’s Policy Statement in support of all avenues of stem cell research is available online.