2008 Press Releases

UCC Statement following Governing Body Meeting of 28/10/2008 at which consideration was given to embryonic stem cell research recommendations
28.10.2008

The Governing Body of University College Cork has today (Tuesday, October 28th 2008) noted the recommendation of the University's Academic Council that any embryonic stem cell research at UCC should be carried out only under strict guidelines drawn up by the University Research Ethics Board (UREB).

The code of practice for research using embryonic stem cell line was approved by the Academic Council recently and referred on to the Governing Body for its consideration.  Effectively, the Academic Council's recommendation now becomes policy in the University.  

The Governing Body meeting considered a document from the UREB, approved by the Academic Council, outlining clearly the compliance and monitoring standards that must be in place before such research would be allowed to commence.  Details of the policy document are given below:

University Research Ethics Board (UREB)
It is the responsibility of scientific researchers who seek to conduct research using human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to ensure that such research is carried out according to rigorous and transparent standards of research ethics.

There is a current legislative vacuum in Ireland regarding the research use of embryos created for purposes of reproduction or the creation of embryos for research purposes.

Although up to yesterday's meeting of the Governing Body, any UCC researcher was free to import embryonic stem cells for research purposes, this is no longer the case.  From now on, UCC researchers who seek to carry out research must apply to do so and can only engage in such research using hESC lines imported from approved sources in other jurisdictions.   

The guidelines include:

1. Every research project involving the use of hESC must be submitted to UREB for ethical review before the start of the project.

2. To facilitate review and monitoring UREB will establish a subcommittee with appropriate expertise to advise UREB in relation to the following:

  • the scientific merit of the research aims of the project the repository from which it is proposed that the hESC lines will be imported including its protocols for deposit, storage and distribution of hESC lines
  • the source of the cells used in the production of the cell lines and in particular the procedures used in the procurement of the cells to ensure voluntary informed consent of donors, privacy, and absence of any payment or other inducements to donors
  • adherence to bio-safety and quality assurance measures
  • the relevant expertise of the investigator to undertake the research
  • the scientific justification for the use of hESC lines, including the feasibility of using alternative research methods (such as animal or in vitro models) that do not require the use of hESC lines.

3. Approval of all research projects shall be by a majority of UREB members after consideration of the scientific and ethical issues.

4. UREB will also decide the frequency and timing of ongoing monitoring of approved projects to ensure that the conditions of the ethical approval are complied with throughout the project.

5. An appeal from UREB's decision may be made to the Academic Council Research Committee.

ENDS

Background Statement re Embryonic Stem Cell Research at UCC

The proposal of UCC's Academic Council, noted today (Tuesday, October 28th 2008) by the Governing Body of the University, does not recommend destructive research on living human embryos. It recommends that any UCC researcher who wishes to engage in research on stem cells, should be allowed to do so only through the importation of cell lines which have been created from cells derived from embryos in jurisdictions where such research is subject to strict guidelines. This is the first time that proposed research in this area in Ireland will be subject to ethical guidelines and oversight.

The proposed policy seeks to ensure that in the current legal vacuum that exists in this area in Ireland, University researchers may only carry out such research subject to a strict internal regime of scientific and ethical oversight.

In recognition of the serious and complex issues involved in embryonic stem cell research, UCC's University Research Ethics Board (UREB) undertook a lengthy process of consideration of these issues and consulted with staff before drafting a policy which was then discussed by three separate University bodies. It also took cognisance of two independent expert reports published in this context in Ireland in recent years  - the Report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction (2005) and the Opinion of the Irish Council for Bioethics (2008).

Embryonic stem cell research offers the potential to increase understanding of and develop treatments for chronic human disease such as neurological, heart, liver, muscle and bone disorders, immune disease and cancer. Current and future generations of patients with these devastating diseases depend on the scientific and medical community to use their expertise and knowledge in the search for solutions that will result in a better quality of life for them and their families.

There is currently no legislation or national policy in Ireland on the issue of embryonic stem cell research, nor is there any legal impediment on the importation or use of embryonic stem cell lines by scientists in Ireland. We reiterate, that in the absence of either national legislation or policy, the University has sought to take steps that would ensure the strictest internal control over research in this area.

ENDS






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