Australian Stem Cell Centre calls for no change to existing regulations concerning human embryo use

The Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) has called for the existing regulations concerning the use of human embryos in research to continue without significant changes in order to allow potentially lifesaving new therapies to be developed.

The ASCC made five recommendations to the 2010 Review of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002.

The ASCC recommends that:

1. The current national regulatory framework that oversees the responsible use of human embryos in Australian research continues without significant change.

2. Australian scientists should continue to have the opportunity to generate new human embryonic stem cell lines in licensed research projects as access to these cells remains vital to Australian research.

3. Research using human embryonic stem cells should continue to be regulated by the existing national guidelines that govern the ethical use of all human materials in research.

4. Support should be provided to assist Australian researchers to access stem cell lines from Australia and overseas provided they have been created in conditions consistent with Australian regulations.

5. Reproductive cloning should continue to be specifically banned in Australia.

According to the ASSC, responsible research towards reducing human pain and suffering, with appropriate safeguards, must continue to remain an imperative in Australia.

The ASCC’s Senior Manager of Research and Government, Dr Megan Munsie, believes the current legislation strikes the right balance between protecting rights and interests of embryo donors and provides researchers with access to embryonic cells.

“Australian stem cell scientists, along with researchers from around the world, are using human embryonic stem cells to increase our understanding of how the body repairs itself following injury or disease,” she said.

“We are making important steps towards developing new treatments for a number of chronic and currently untreatable conditions.

“Any change to the current regulatory framework is unnecessary at this time. The present system has proven to be robust, providing societal safeguards but not unduly restricting progress.”

The full submission is available on the Australian Stem Cell Centre’s website.