ISSCR News
ISSCR Statement on the Scientific and Therapeutic Value of Human Fetal Tissue Research
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), the largest professional organization of stem cell researchers from around the world, is concerned about a recent statement attributed to NIH that the agency will not renew research grants involving human fetal tissue (HFT), and that research with HFT is not conducted responsibly or transparently. In fact, research with HFT has been indispensable in advancing biomedicine and saving millions of lives, and it continues to play an essential role in accelerating research that benefits patients.
The ISSCR Partners with Nuffield Council on Bioethics to Compile Global Horizon Scan on Stem Cell Research
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced a new partnership with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) to conduct an ambitious international horizon scan focused on the future of stem cell science and its ethical implications. The initiative will help signal and inform updates to the ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation and guide the Society’s broader public policy agenda.
The ISSCR Holds Inaugural Regulatory Meeting with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
On 7 November 2024, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) held its first meeting with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Held at PMDA’s Tokyo headquarters, the meeting brought together senior officials from PMDA and MFDS alongside ISSCR leaders based in Japan, Korea, and the United States.
At this inaugural meeting, participants convened to discuss key topics related to the:
1) manufacture of human Pluripotent Stem Cell (hPSC) banks as starting materials for allogeneic, PSC-based therapies, and
2) genetic assessment of hPSCs, 3) jurisdictional differences in guidelines for biological Ancillary Materials (AM).
The participants also had the opportunity to gain insights into the regulatory approaches of the PMDA and MFDS regarding PSC-based products.
ISSCR Joins Coalition Effort to Support Advocacy for NIH Funding
The ISSCR is proud to join a broad coalition of scientific societies in affirming the essential role of the National Institutes of Health in advancing biomedical discovery and sustaining a robust research enterprise. As part of this effort, ISSCR members in the targeted states of Kansas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Utah have been invited to share stories that illustrate the vital importance of research investment. Additional opportunities for members in all states will be available in September. This campaign is led by our alliance partner, Research!America.
The ISSCR Calls for Science Serving the Public Good to be of the Highest Quality and Integrity
“The ISSCR joined more than 90 scientific, academic, and professional organizations to emphasize that science serving the public good should be of the highest quality, integrity, and utility. In a letter sent to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, signatories urged policymakers to recognize that any efforts to strengthen scientific integrity, including those outlined in the recent Executive Order “Restoring Gold Standard Science”, must build upon, rather than undermine, the existing foundational pillars of gold standard science that have driven decades of scientific and technological progress. These principles, including empirical rigor, objectivity, peer review, and reproducibility have been central to the advancement of stem cell science and the development of cell-based therapies.
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