Since 1998, the volume of research being conducted using human embryonic
stem (hES) cells has expanded primarily using non-federal funds because of
restrictions on the use of federal funds for such research. Given limited
federal involvement, hES cell research has thus far been carried out under
a patchwork of existing regulations, many of which were not designed with
this research specifically in mind. In addition, hES cell research touches
on many ethical, legal, scientific, and policy issues that are of concern
to the public.
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In 2005, the National Academies released the report
Guidelines for Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Research, which offered a common set of ethical
standards for the field. The report provided guidelines for the conduct of
hES cell research that were intended to address both ethical and scientific
concerns and to enhance the integrity of hES cell research by encouraging
responsible practices in the conduct of that research.
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In order to keep the Guidelines up to date, given the rapid pace of scientific
developments in the field of stem cell research, the National Academies also
established the
Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee in 2006 with support from
The Ellison Medical Foundation, The Greenwall Foundation, and the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute.
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This Committee issued amendments to the Guidelines in 2007 and 2008,
which are available in the 2007
Amendments and 2008 Amendments
reports. Future deliberations of the committee will address items
for which additional information gathering and more extensive debate and discussion
will be necessary.
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The current (2008 amendments) version of the Guidelines is available for free download
from
National Academies
Press.
