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Stem Cell Scientist Expresses Concern Over Omission Of SCNT As Cell Source In New Draft Federal Stem Cell Research Funding Guidlines Draft guidelines issued last week by the National Institutes of Health would prohibit federal funding for research on stem cell lines created through "therapeutic cloning" or somatic cell nuclear transfer. Irving Weissman, MD, director of Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, said the SCNT technique is one way to create disease-specific human embryonic stem cell lines on which to conduct research and test therapies. He also took issue with the assertion that the NIH consulted existing guidelines from the National Academy of Sciences and the International Society for Stem Cell Research - both of which sanction the use of SCNT-derived cell lines - in coming up with its draft recommendations. In announcing the draft guidelines, acting NIH director Raynard Kington, MD, PhD, justified the restriction in part by saying that there is a lack of scientific consensus as to the necessity of funding lines derived by SCNT and that, although the technique has been used to create many embryonic stem cell lines in animals, such human embryonic stem cell lines have not yet been documented. "We believe there is strong, broad public and scientific support for the use of federal funds for research on cell lines from embryos derived through in vitro fertilization for reproductive purposes that would not otherwise be used," said Kington, noting that similar legislation had twice passed both the House and Senate only to be vetoed by former President George W. Bush. "We do not see similar broad support for using federal funding for research on cell lines from other sources." "...The NIH placed its own version of ethics in place of the president's clear proclamation," said Weissman. "As head of the National Academy of Sciences panel that unanimously endorsed research using SCNT, and as a drafter of the guidelines for the International Society for Stem Cell Research, I know that this suggested ban on federal funding of SCNT-derived human embryonic stem cell lines is against our policies and against President Obama's March 9 comments..." The somatic cell nuclear transfer technique involves removing the nucleus from an egg cell and replacing it with a nucleus from a different cell in order to create an embryonic stem cell line genetically identical to the donor nucleus. In the case of a donor who suffers from a condition like Parkinson's disease, the SCNT process would yield an embryonic stem cell line that could be used to test specific therapies for that patient. The proposed NIH guidelines will be available for public comment for 30 days, and the final guidelines will be released by the agency on or before July 7. They can be viewed here at the NIH website. Comments can be mailed, or submitted electronically after the guidelines are published in the Federal Register by April 24. Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC), one of our Sector Companies, owns patents and licenses on SCNT technology. This technology has been licensed to Biotime, Inc. (BTIM) and International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO). Adapted from a Stanford Medicine News announcement. Posted by Admin on April 20, 2009 in Embryonic Stem Cells | Permalink ShareThis Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn