Towards the acceptance of embryo stem-cell therapies
Nature 397(6717): 279
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-0836 PMID: 9950413 Document Number: 508310
The controversy over research with human embryo stem cells, which can now be successfully cultured from embryos, must be addressed. This culturing success may allow such cells to be grown into a variety of human tissues and organs, with implications for the treatment of a range of diseases, from spinal cord injury to rheumatoid arthritis. However, before scientists at or funded by the NIH can engage in this area of research, they must address the ban introduced by Congress 4 years ago on research involving human embryos. The NIH director has wisely discouraged a hasty, albeit well-meaning, proposed legislative solution that would have inadvertently stimulated a strong anti-NIH backlash. However, it is vital that the NIH pushes forward with its proposal to draw up guidelines to reassure critics of this research that their concerns have been taken into account as far as possible.