Pioneering research into the use of stem cells for medical treatments is being held back by over-regulation, a North scientist has claimed.
Professor Alison Murdoch, director of the fertility clinic at Newcastle's Centre for Life, said Government bureaucracy was threatening the UK's position as a world leader in the field.
Speaking at a meeting of stem cell scientists, she said the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) was causing delays in understanding the cloning process which could lead to treatments for a number of serious diseases, notably Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Prof Murdoch, whose team were the first in the world to clone a human embryo, was speaking at a meeting held by the Science Minister, Malcolm Wicks, in London.
Her team was granted a licence to ask women to donate eggs two years ago, but she said the work stalled while the HFEA completed its public consultation, which only ruled in favour last month.
Prof Murdoch said: "We have to look very carefully at this regulatory process, as this field is moving forward very fast.
"If it takes two years to get an approval through, when I would say nothing changed from the initial application, it is a problem. "The way the Government has handled the work we do is to regulate it to the point that it looks like it's got barbed wire around it."
A cloning project at Newcastle to create embryos that are 99.9% human and 0.1% animal has also been put on hold while the HFEA carries out another public consultation. The Centre for Life researcher Dr Lyle Armstrong and his team hope to use the embryos to extract stem cells and grow tissue, such as muscle or liver, which can be used to treat degenerative diseases.
The embryos would be created by fusing animal eggs, taken from cows or rabbits, with human cells to circumvent the shortage of fresh human eggs for research. In December, a Government White Paper included proposals to ban the creation of hybrid embryos. But many bodies, such as the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, and scientists in the North-East favour allowing the research under strict regulations.
The White Paper will lead to a Government review of fertility laws, due to be published in draft in May. Prof Murdoch said: "We have got an opportunity to start again to get things right." The HFEA declined to comment yesterday.
Chance to meet top scientists
Some of the top scientists in the North-East are meeting the public this weekend to explain their research into stem cells.
A series of events is taking place today and tomorrow exploring the subject at the Centre for Life in Newcastle.
Prof Colin McGuckin and Dr Rez Prathalingan will discuss their work and the potential health benefits offered by stem cells.
Linda Conlon, director of the Centre for Life, said: "Stem cells are difficult to grasp without a basic understanding of what cells are, how they work and why some cells are different to others.
"By taking part in our stem cells activities, members of the public will be able to gain a good understanding of the subject, discuss the issues with world-leading stem cell scientists and come away with a well-informed opinion on what for many is an emotive topic."
Martin Cox, manager of the North-East England Stem Cell Institute, said: "We receive tremendous support from the people of the North-East.
"We see it as essential that we explain what we are doing to the public and involve them in discussions about the potential of stem cells."
Prof McGuckin and Dr Prathalingan will be at the Centre for Life between 1pm and 2pm and will answer questions on their work from visitors to the Centre for Life.
