News
Justin Schleede reaches onto a black lab bench to pick up a tray of small plastic tubes.
"These are saliva...
"If proven to be safe, we believe preventive gene editing could be one of the most important health technologies of...
Lawyers for the disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk on Monday decided to take legal action against Hwang_s one-time collaborator Prof...
Six months ago, California's $3 billion stem cell research institute appeared to be an agency in denial.
Lawsuits prevented the...
Developments in biotechnology have made possible species-changing and even species-endangering procedures, says George Annas. We urgently need a global governance...
The governing board of California's new multibillion-dollar stem-cell research program meets today in Palo Alto to adopt policies in two...
(This statement can be attributed to Jesse Reynolds of the Center for Genetics and Society)
After months of pressure from public interest groups and legislators, the proposed intellectual property policy and research standards to be considered today appear to address many of the concerns raised by critics.
The intellectual property recommendations address the concerns we have raised regarding returns to the state and affordable pricing. We hope that the governing board adopts these proposed policies, and that they will be adequately enforced.
The proposed research standards contain notable provisions, many of which were added based on suggestions of public interest groups. However, key protections against misuse of cloned embryo remain inadequate. The most serious problem is more general: the proposed policies provide no mechanism for these rules to be effectively enforced.
Too much is at stake with stem cell research to rely on what may amount to self-regulation. If women's health is to be protected, and misuses of these powerful new technologies prevented, the approval process must be overseen by a transparent and accountable body that is independent of the research institutions, the CIRM, and the insider's network of scientists.
The Center for Genetics and Society works to encourage responsible uses and effective societal governance of the new human genetic and reproductive technologies.
Contact:
Parita Shah
510-625-0819 x312
Jesse Reynolds
510-625-0819 x308