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As a strong su[pporter for the NIH Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, I feel I must speak out, as I have some real concerns. My first concern is that there has been a lot of straying from basic information.Some backgound information: In an effort to help insure 5that any research utilizaing human pluripotent stem cells is appropriately anmd carefully conducted, the NIH convened a Working Group of the Advisory Committe to the Diorector(ACD), NIH to advise the ACD on guidelines and oversight for research involving human pluripotent stem cells.This group was composed of scientists,patients,patient advocates,ehticists,clinicians and lawyers. IN developing the draft guidelines,the NIH considered advise from the National Bioethics Advisory Commission,the public and the Congress. The draft guidelines:The guidelines apply to research aplications to research applications or proposals for NIH funding or support that involve the utilization of human p[luripotent stem cells derived(without NIH funding) fropm early human embryos and the derivation or utilizatiob of human puripotent stem cells derived from human fetal tissue.HHS will fund research using human pluripotent stem cells derived from from early human embyos only if investigators use cells derived from frozen embryos that were created fpor the purposes of infertility treatment and were in excess of clinical need In addition,the investigaor can offer no inducements,monetary or otherwise for the donation of the embryo and there must be a clear separation between the infertility treatment and the decision to donate embryos. With regard to deriving or using cells from fetal tisue,investigators will be expected to follow the NIH Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Guidelines and all laws and regulations governing human fetal tisssue research.Because cellls derived from fetal tissue may later be utilized in human fetal tissue transplantation research,NIH weill fund this rreesearch only if investigators comply with the fetal tissue transplantation research statue.The guidel;ines specify what should be contained in thew informed consent document for the donation of human embryos or human fetal tissue.In submitting an applicatiuon or proposal for funding,investigators will be required to provide documentation showing compliance wqiththe guidelines.This documentation will be submitted to a newly formed HUman Puripotent Stem Cell Review Group(HPSCRG)The review group will hold public meetings when a funding request proposes the use of newly derived line of human pluripotent stem cells.They will also complile a yearly itiles of all awarded applications. The guidelines state that no NIH funds may be used to derive pluripotent stem cells from human embryos.The guidelines also address the other research that are inelgible for funding,including studies in which human pluripotent human cells are utili