Scientists welcome Bill

Oct 24 2008 by William Green, The Journal

NORTH East scientists leading stem cell research have won approval from MPs, but will be banned from providing treatment.

Parliament backed the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which approves further work on hybrid human-animal embryo research that could combat diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well as infertility.

Prof Michael Whitaker, a director of the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute, welcomed the news, but expressed disappointment at the lack of provisions allowing treatment. He said new legislation would be needed to move beyond pure research.

The institute brings together scientists at Newcastle and Durham Universities working with the NHS on stem cell research.

Researchers in the region got the go-ahead in January to create embryos that are 99.9% human and 0.1% animal to ease a shortage of fresh human eggs for research. Prof Whitaker said: “The Bill, as it has turned out, we are very happy with, and pleased with the debate that has gone on in Parliament with this area of research. In the end, it has tidied a lot of things that were already going on.”

He said scientists were allowed to conduct research into potential treatments for diseases, but added: “Once we can show we can do this in research, there then needs to be another Act of Parliament that allows it to be done as a therapy.”

The Bill, which now goes to the House of Lords, has also attracted controversy over relaxing guidance to make it easier for lesbians and single women to have fertility treatment and letting parents choose “saviour siblings” for seriously ill children.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries claimed loopholes in the legislation would allow scientists to attempt to create a “humanzee” – a hybrid between a human and a chimpanzee.

The Department of Health said the Bill would allow development of therapeutic products as part of research, but stressed they would need considerable safety assessment. It was unlikely stem cells would be taken directly from an embryo and inserted into patients.