In 2005, the National Academies issued its
Guidelines for Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Research. These guidelines were prepared to
enhance the integrity of human embryonic stem (hES) cell research by encouraging
responsible practices in the conduct of that research. They address the
many ethical, legal, scientific, and policy issues that are of concern to
the public, and the scientific community.
In response to requests from the scientific community for a national body to
continue discussions of hES cell research, the National
Academies established the Human Embryonic
Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee to:
- monitor and review scientific developments and changing
ethical, legal, and policy issues related to hES cell
research,
- discuss the need for revisions to the Guidelines for Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Research, and
- prepare periodic reports to update the Guidelines as needed.
Sources of information considered by the Advisory Committee include public symposia
organized by the Committee on developments in stem cell science and new or
changing issues in ethics and policy and written comments from members of
the scientific community and others on the need to update the guidelines.
The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory
Committee is a project of the National Research Council's
Board on Life Sciences and
the Institute of Medicine's
Board on Health
Sciences Policy.
The project is sponsored by
The Ellison
Medical Foundation,
The Greenwall
Foundation, and the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
