Time is running out for scientists

[zar]

BOSTON, MA - Time is running out for scientists to comment on the proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for the use of human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines and their eligibility for federal funds. The rules as drafted make it possible that funding for almost all existing cell lines will disappear.

On May 26, the window to provide feedback will close. But apparently scientists have been slow to get their comments in, leaving researchers in the field very concerned.

Patrick Taylor, deputy general counsel at Children's Hospital Boston, warns in the journal Cell Stem Cell that since the rules are retroactive, ongoing research is threatened.

"Research with almost all existing cell lines will not be fundable, leaving almost no federal funds for research using cells created ethically since 2001. This will mean a loss of much of the research benefit of the last eight years, even though that research was independently reviewed and determined to be ethical under federal standards," Taylor said. "It is vitally important that scientists are aware of this problem and that the situation is resolved as quickly as possible."
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/42466/181

 

[barbara]

Scientists need to come up for a fresh breath of reality once in awhile

I'm afraid the deadline has already expired for comments. I posted a similar article and was my usual irate self about some of the reasons that the old lines will no longer be funded. There are new consent forms for parents who donate embryos and one concern was that with the old embryos that are already being used in research is that the parents did not sign the particular form that is now going to be required. They gave their permission, but did not sign the form because it didn't even exist at the time they donated the embryos. It is hard to believe that the scientific community did not slam the NIH with comments, but apparently there wasn't a huge reaction as they continued quietly with their research simply letting reason go out the window.

 

[zar]

Barbara,not all is lost.

Posted Friday, June 05, 2009 12:17 PM
Breaking: Almost 50,000 Individuals Weigh In On Proposed Stem Cell Guidelines
Newsweek
by Claudia Kalb
This just in: NEWSWEEK has learned that in the one-month period allotted by the National Institute of Health, the NIH received 49,015 comments in response to its draft guidelines for human stem cell research. Between April and May, remarks poured in from all over the country and from a wide variety of interested parties: stem cell scientists, religious organizations and the general public.
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumanc....ell-guides.aspx