13 new human stem-cell lines OKayed!

Scientists received a green light Wednesday to apply for use of 13 human embryonic stem-cell lines from an approved list developed by the National Institutes of Health, the government's prime medical research agency. In making the announcement, Dr. Francis S. Collins, NIH director, said the decision was in accord with guidelines adopted in July and more lines, called batches, are likely to be added in the future.

The stem-cell lines, created by Children's Hospital Boston and Rockefeller University, "were derived from embryos that were donated under ethically sound informed consent processes," Dr. Collins said. The decision gives scientists greater leeway in their ability to explore new treatments for diseases, conditions and disabilities and help test the safety of new drugs in the laboratory. Previously, they could do such work using embryonic stem cells under private grants and money.

President Obama in the spring lifted eight years of restrictions on such cells that had limited public tax money from being used on 21 previously approved lines. It was expected that the new administration would change the policies but it took time to review the batches now available. Federal law forbids the use of government money for making stem cells that require the destruction of a human embryo out of which they are formed. An NIH review panel had determined that in order to meet these restrictions cell lines would come from donated embryos at fertility clinics where parents had signed consent forms.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/03/13-new-human-embryonic-stem-cell-lines-okd/

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