What’s new in the ELSI field surrounding stem cell research and regenerative medicine?
Guidelines for the Field of Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine
As a service to the field, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) develops guidelines that address the international diversity of cultural, political, legal, and ethical issues associated with stem cell research and its translation to medicine. The guidelines maintain and underscore widely shared principles in science that call for rigor, oversight, and transparency in all areas of practice. Adherence to these principles provides assurance that stem cell research is conducted with scientific and ethical integrity and that new therapies are evidence-based.
Responding to advances in science, the guidelines were updated in 2021 to encompass a broader and more expansive scope of research and clinical endeavor while maintaining the fundamental principles of the research and application. The 2021 guidelines include new recommendations to address the recent scientific advances involving embryos, stem cell-based embryo models, chimeras, organoids, and genome editing.
If you would like to know more about these changes, you can also consult the article published in Nature: Stem-cell guidelines: why it was time for an update.
TCPS 2 (2018) – Public Consultation 2021
The Panel on Research Ethics and the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research are seeking comments on four documents related to the interpretation and implementation of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2 (2018)). The documents cover REB review of multijurisdictional research, broad consent, research involving cell lines, and research involving totipotent stem cells.
The Panel and Secretariat are also taking this opportunity to seek the community’s input on current and emerging ethics issues in need of interpretation or development in the TCPS 2. A short survey is provided for this purpose.
The consultation documents and survey can be found at this link.
Written comments will be accepted until October 4th 2021.