ID :
58244
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 07:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58244
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea conditionally lifts ban on stem cell research
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea conditionally lifted its three-year ban on somatic stem cell research Wednesday, paving the way for local scientists to resume experiments that could help expand human knowledge of medical science and biotechnology.
The decision allows Cha Medical Center to conduct research involving somatic or
adult stem cell cloning if it abides by four preconditions, a presidential
committee on bioethics said.
The committee called on the hospital to make clear that research will primarily
be conducted on lab animals to reduce the use of human ova, with an independent
institutional review board to be set up to check for possible abuse and ethics
violations.
It also ordered the removal of all references claiming that stem cell research
could lead to cures, as that would give false hope to people, and to seek renewed
permission from donors who previously pledged to donate their ova for testing.
Originally, the hospital had said the research on stem cells can help find cures
for Parkinson's disease, strokes, diabetes, coronary thrombosis, and spinal cord
injuries.
"The research authorized is not directly related to finding cures, but to expand
knowledge about stem cells," said Roh Jae-kyung, head of the bioethics panel.
A further condition imposed orders on the hospital to halt work when a single
embryonic stem cell line is created, with resumption of research to be allowed
only after gaining clearance for future ovum use.
Committee members stressed that while it has given permission, Cha can only begin
research if it has satisfied the above pre-conditions.
They said that the decision will be forwarded to the Ministry for Health, Welfare
and Family Affairs, which will review any research proposals forwarded by the
hospital and give final consent.
The ministry said that if there are no hurdles, research on stem cells could
resume in mid-May.
The move could allow South Korea to join the international race to fully develop
stem cell research, currently led by countries like Australia, Britain, Japan,
and the United States, which is planning to use stem cells to conduct clinical
tests on people suffering from spinal cord injuries.
The U.S. was given an additional boost when President Barack Obama last month
agreed to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
If authorization is given, the hospital, which has an extensive fertility clinic
and a stem cell institute, will effectively be allowed to conduct research that
was banned in March 2006 after disgraced cloning expert Hwang Woo-suk was found
to have faked test results.
The former Seoul National University professor is currently on trial on charges
of fraud and violating bioethics laws. He and his team have been accused of using
fabricated data to claim a breakthrough in stem cell research that grabbed
international attention. Hwang has been seeking permission to resume research
through Suam Biotechnology Institute, but had been rejected by the government.
The government has maintained that regardless of trial results, Hwang will not be
given a chance to conduct research because his actions in the past were
unethical.
The hospital, meanwhile, said it planned to use 500 frozen "left-over" ova from
fertility treatments that are no longer needed and 300 substandard ova that
cannot be used at all.
Chung Hyung-min, director of the Cha Bio & Diostech Co., who will head the
research, said the aim will be to create cloned embryonic stem cells using human
adult cells that can be extracted from blood, hair follicles, fat, tissue inside
the nose and umbilical cords.
The scientist said the process will require the removal of the nuclei from the
ovum, and filling it with the cloned adult cell of another person that will lead
to the creation of a stem cell line.
"The goal will be to use 200 ova to make one stem cell line," he said, adding
that to prevent another controversy, the stem cell line will be submitted for
review by both local and foreign scientists if it is created.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
The decision allows Cha Medical Center to conduct research involving somatic or
adult stem cell cloning if it abides by four preconditions, a presidential
committee on bioethics said.
The committee called on the hospital to make clear that research will primarily
be conducted on lab animals to reduce the use of human ova, with an independent
institutional review board to be set up to check for possible abuse and ethics
violations.
It also ordered the removal of all references claiming that stem cell research
could lead to cures, as that would give false hope to people, and to seek renewed
permission from donors who previously pledged to donate their ova for testing.
Originally, the hospital had said the research on stem cells can help find cures
for Parkinson's disease, strokes, diabetes, coronary thrombosis, and spinal cord
injuries.
"The research authorized is not directly related to finding cures, but to expand
knowledge about stem cells," said Roh Jae-kyung, head of the bioethics panel.
A further condition imposed orders on the hospital to halt work when a single
embryonic stem cell line is created, with resumption of research to be allowed
only after gaining clearance for future ovum use.
Committee members stressed that while it has given permission, Cha can only begin
research if it has satisfied the above pre-conditions.
They said that the decision will be forwarded to the Ministry for Health, Welfare
and Family Affairs, which will review any research proposals forwarded by the
hospital and give final consent.
The ministry said that if there are no hurdles, research on stem cells could
resume in mid-May.
The move could allow South Korea to join the international race to fully develop
stem cell research, currently led by countries like Australia, Britain, Japan,
and the United States, which is planning to use stem cells to conduct clinical
tests on people suffering from spinal cord injuries.
The U.S. was given an additional boost when President Barack Obama last month
agreed to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
If authorization is given, the hospital, which has an extensive fertility clinic
and a stem cell institute, will effectively be allowed to conduct research that
was banned in March 2006 after disgraced cloning expert Hwang Woo-suk was found
to have faked test results.
The former Seoul National University professor is currently on trial on charges
of fraud and violating bioethics laws. He and his team have been accused of using
fabricated data to claim a breakthrough in stem cell research that grabbed
international attention. Hwang has been seeking permission to resume research
through Suam Biotechnology Institute, but had been rejected by the government.
The government has maintained that regardless of trial results, Hwang will not be
given a chance to conduct research because his actions in the past were
unethical.
The hospital, meanwhile, said it planned to use 500 frozen "left-over" ova from
fertility treatments that are no longer needed and 300 substandard ova that
cannot be used at all.
Chung Hyung-min, director of the Cha Bio & Diostech Co., who will head the
research, said the aim will be to create cloned embryonic stem cells using human
adult cells that can be extracted from blood, hair follicles, fat, tissue inside
the nose and umbilical cords.
The scientist said the process will require the removal of the nuclei from the
ovum, and filling it with the cloned adult cell of another person that will lead
to the creation of a stem cell line.
"The goal will be to use 200 ova to make one stem cell line," he said, adding
that to prevent another controversy, the stem cell line will be submitted for
review by both local and foreign scientists if it is created.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
