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Report supports human stem cells research WebPosted Thu Mar 29 22:02:49 2001 TORONTO - The government body that funds medical research in Canada recommends that scientists be allowed to use human embryos for stem cell research under certain guidelines. LINKS: Websites related to this story The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which funds medical research in the country, issued an influential report Thursday. It says researchers should be allowed to use the cells from surplus embryos at fertility clinics, if they are donated by couples who create them. But the report says scientists should be banned from cloning embryos specifically for stem cell research. Stem cells, which make up the human embryo, create every other type of cell in the human body. Among other things, researchers say they could be used to grow tissue for transplants. Groups opposed to stem cell research, including Campaign Life Coalition, say the experiments should be banned altogether, because the cells are human lives. The CIHR recommends several other restrictions, including: The embryos must be under two weeks old Research projects must pass a national ethical review committee The guidelines would apply to research that receives federal money Other kinds of research should be regulated by legislation At the moment there is no federal legislation covering stem cell research. The CIHR, which funds medical research at universities, is asking the public for input over the next few months before issuing its final report. Written by CBC News Online staff http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/view?/news/2001/03/29/stem_cell010329 ****** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn