Stem cell researchers get one year
The Council of Australian Governments' decision to allow research on existing human embryos for twelve months has been welcomed by scientists, who say they will use the time to establish parameters for such research.
The decision was made at the Council's meeting on Friday. Commonwealth, State, and Territory leaders agreed to allow the use of existing surplus IVF embryos in research, but placed a one-year ban on the use of any new embryos.
During that year, a committee of experts will develop rules to ensure that if the ban is lifted, any new embryos are not created for profit or solely for the purpose of stem cell research.
"My colleagues and I are pleased with this compromise," said Associate Professor Martin Pera, co-director of the Centre for Early Human Development at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development.
"It gives us the flexibility we need while maintaining the adequate ethical safeguards that will enable the research to go forward."
Stem cells are those which have the potential to develop into other cell types, and can be found in human embryos, in the umbilical cord, and in some types of adult tissue, such as bone marrow.
Only a handful of Australian laboratories are working with human embryonic stem cells. Apart from the groups in Melbourne, associated with Monash University, there is a laboratory each in Adelaide and Sydney.
There are logistical problems that must be resolved during the first assessment year, said Associate Professor Pera. For example, parental consent must be given before the embryos can be used for research.
"Will we be able to track the patients and [get their consent] retrospectively?" he questioned.
There has also been some debate over how the distribution of the embryos will be managed, with some scientists calling for a public stem cell bank, and others arguing for a central laboratory, probably attached to an IVF clinic.
And on a scientific level, there are more questions than answers, Associate Professor Pera added, since our knowledge of these cells is still limited.
One issue would be how much of the material is of adequate quality to provide stem cells, he said.
In addition, the researchers will be attempting to create stem cell lines without the use of animal 'helper' cells, because of safety issues with cross-contamination. This is not a well-established procedure.
"There are some indications this can be done but we don't know how viable [it] is," Associate Professor Pera explained.
Making a stem cell line from an embryo is a complex process, and not always successful.
"It is not a small job, you might initiate quite a few, but not take it through the whole procedure."
An individual laboratory would produce about ten stem cell lines in the first year, he estimated.
Once established, however, stem cell lines can be reproduced in the laboratory. The new legislation will allow scientists to broaden their pool of stem cells.
"We don't know how many [different stem cell lines] we will ultimately need that's a matter for research really," said Associate Professor Pera.
Flexibility is very important because the science is so new, he argued.
"The way we make [cell lines] now might not be the optimum. As our knowledge improves, we may want to change the conditions the cells are made under."
At the end of the one-year period, the policy limiting the research to existing embryos will be reviewed. Researchers will not exhaust the supply of spare embryos in that time, but legislation requires that unused IVF embryos must be destroyed after five years, so the stock will eventually run out.
"After five years we would have the decks completely cleared of stuff we would be able to work on," said Associate Professor Pera.
"What we will learn in that first year is how useful the existing material will be."