Global stem cell recommendations published

Scientists and bioethicists from 14 countries have published a set of ethical guidelines on stem cell research, in an effort to address conflicting international laws in this area. The 'Hinxton Group', an international consortium on stem cells, ethics and law, met recently for the first time in Cambridge, UK. The group published a consensus statement on 24 February, which lists 19 recommendations agreed upon at the meeting. They include a call for laws and regulations governing science to remain 'flexible', to accommodate rapid scientific advance. The statement also recommends safeguards be put in place to ensure that only high quality, independently verified data is published.

The guidelines are not intended to overrule national laws, but seek to foster international collaboration and speed advances in this area of research. The group says it is striving for consensus on a fundamental ethical framework, whilst acknowledging 'the reality of cultural diversity and moral disagreement about some elements of stem cell research'.

The group says that while scientists have a responsibility to obey the law, 'policy makers should refrain from interfering with the freedom of citizens unless good and sufficient justification can be produced for doing so'. It further recommends that in countries with laws that wholly or partly restrict human embryonic stem cell (ES cell) research, but do not expressly forbid international collaboration, scientists should be free to pursue ES cell research elsewhere.

To prevent fraud in stem cell research, the group recommends that journal editors should require authors of ES cell papers to submit data confirming the authenticity of any new cell-lines, and that the source of the cells used in the research is clearly specified. Scientists should also be encouraged to submit new cell-lines to national or international stem cell banks that require internationally accepted quality standards.

On the ethical issues surrounding ES cell work, the group recommends that a database be created, containing statements concerning ethical conduct and guidance, research protocols, consent forms and information provided to human tissue donors. It further calls for an internationally agreed consensus on ethical standards and practices governing ES cell research to be developed.

Some scientists, however, remain sceptical that it will be possible to achieve any international consensus in ES cell research. 'I think the regulatory system that we have in the UK is the best, but I don't think you can coerce other people to take it on', Stephen Minger, of King's College London, told the Scientist magazine. Others would like to see further challenges to governments that restrict ES cell research. US geneticist Shahin Rafii wants a consensus that calls upon the US and other countries to give public money to the research. 'This is not a scientist's problem, it is a government problem - '[governments] are blocking out research', he told the magazine.