Balancing Act: German Stem Cell Research
Recently embryonic stem cell research was again the subject of intense 
discussion in Germany. The result: such research is therefore possible only 
within narrow limits. Scientists such as Hans Schöler nevertheless believe 
that stem research in Germany can be productive - not least thanks to a 
hard-won recent change in the law.
Hans Schöler is relieved: at last he has more time again for his stem cell 
research. The discussion forums with politicians and church representatives 
have cost the director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine 
in Münster a lot of time and energy. Together with other scientists, Schöler 
fought for an extension of the scope for stem cell research in Germany. With 
success: according to the Stem Cell Act of 2008, he and his colleagues may 
now import, under certain conditions, human embryonic stem cell lines that 
were extracted before May 1, 2007. Hitherto allowed was import of only old 
stem cell lines, produced before January 1, 2002.
"Now we in Germany will finally have the chance to work with excellent new 
lines and to compare our results to international research groups that also 
work with these cells", believes the molecular biologist, who returned to 
Münster from the United States in 2004. Schöler and his colleagues hope they 
will soon be able to heal serious illnesses such as cancer or Parkinson's 
disease and repair no longer functioning organs. In contrast to adult stem 
cells, embryonic stem cells are capable of developing into any cell in the 
human body.
Strict regulations and a cut-off date
 Before the German parliament allowed the import of embryonic stem cells 
under specific conditions in 2002, the issue was the object of intense 
public discussion. Now a central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research 
(Zentrale Ethik-Kommission für Stammzellenforschung / ZES), composed of 
biologists, doctors and theologians, has permitted the importation of stem 
cells under strict conditions if they deem the research to be meaningful. 
Introduced along with the Stem Cell Act was the cut-off date regulation, 
similar to that stipulated in the United States for state funded research. 
It is intended to prevent the killing of embryos for scientific purposes. In 
accordance with this regulation, German researchers may work only with stem 
cells that existed prior to their planned research.
The 2008 change in the German law has introduced one of the strictest 
regulations within Europe. In most countries researchers are allowed to use 
surplus embryos created by artificial insemination for their research. In 
Great Britain, Belgium and Sweden, so-called therapeutic cloning, that is, 
production of embryonic stem cells from genetically similar descendants, is 
also allowed. Only in Ireland research of any kind on embryonic stem cells 
is (still) banned.
Small, but important
In Germany, the scope for embryonic stem cell research differs from state to 
state. While North Rhine-Westphalia wants to bring scientists and their 
various programmes to state universities and institutes, they are not always 
welcome in Catholic states such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. In 
general, the sums available for research remain limited. "Between 2000 and 
2007 we funded projects in stem cell research with 65 million euros", says 
Tobias Grimm of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche 
Forschungsgemeinschaft / DFG), the most important German research-funding 
organisation. "Of those monies, however, only about eight million euros went 
to human embryonic stem cell research. The predominant share went to 
researchers that worked with adult stem cells".
Altogether, in the same period of time the DFG supported the large field of 
the life sciences with 320 million euros. "Stem cell research in Germany is 
thus a relevant research area, but not a very big one", says Grimm. 
According to information from the Robert Koch Institute, the central medical 
research institution in Germany, 33 research groups have up to now received 
permission to import embryonic stem cells. The tendency will increase, 
surmises Grimm. Beginning this year, it will be simpler for researchers to 
import new cells.
"Stem cell research is essential"
Critics of the change in the stem cell research law fear that in a few years 
scientists will again press for a deferral of the now fixed cut-off date. 
Whether or not that will be the case Hans Schöler cannot say. Knowledge of 
the versatile all-rounder is growing so rapidly that one day scientists may 
no longer need to produce stem cells from embryos. Schöler's own research is 
in just this field. Only recently he and his co-researchers succeeded in 
retransforming the cells of a grown mouse into their original embryonic 
state with gentler and safer methods than before. Nevertheless, Schöler does 
not want to rely completely on cell reprogramming. "Many ways lead to the 
same goal" is his credo. "Research on both adult and embryonic stem cells is 
essential, so that the whole therapeutic potential can be utilised".
Why his field of research has repeatedly been the object of intense 
discussion in Germany he cannot say. His personal opinion is that 
particularly church circles have difficulties with stem cell research and 
make their influence felt in politics. He has, however, been able to gain 
something positive from the discussions: "In this way we enter into 
conversation with people who look at our field of research from quite 
another angle and who have thought very deeply about it".
Dorothee Bürkle
The author works as a science journalist and editor for the Deutschen 
Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Cologne. She worked on the 
Stammzelldossier des WDR, which received the Adolf Grimme Award.
Translation: Jonathan Uhlaner
Copyright: Goethe-Institut e.V., Online-Redaktion

Rayilyn Brown
Director AZNPF
Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
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