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 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.
The ISSCR Forms Embryo Models Working Group
Since the ISSCR released its May 2021 update to the Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, research with stem cell-based embryo models has evolved rapidly. During the extensive conversations leading up to the 2021 guidelines update, many of the embryo models that are being used today did not exist. The speed of embryo model research has resulted in new challenges for oversight committees, policymakers, funders, and journal editors grappling with how to assess the unique aspects of the science and the associated ethical and regulatory issues.
The ISSCR Responds to Ranking Member Cassidy’s Request for Information on NIH Reform
On 27 October 2023, the ISSCR submitted comments to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy’s Request for Information on reforming the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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