ISSCR members and staff met 12 April with the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy to advocate for investments in basic research in the European Union’s 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

In a letter to the European Commission today, the ISSCR encourages the EU to spur innovation by supporting basic research and programs that foster cooperation among fundamental research endeavors across Europe.

The legislation would have put patients at risk, slowed the development of effective stem cell therapies, and blocked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from access to crucial data about the safety and effectiveness of new medical treatments.

The ISSCR has named Eric Anthony to be its new Director of Policy. Anthony served more than eight years as staff in the U.S. Congress, most recently as legislative director for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut. He will join the Society in early January 2018.

The ISSCR commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for reaffirming its regulatory authority over stem cell biologics and clarifying the criteria that determine which cell-based products fall under its oversight. These guidance documents will provide greater transparency for patients, medical professionals, and law enforcement authorities, about the legal status of stem cell treatments in the U.S.

A measure signed into law 3 October in the state of California, U.S., requires clinics to inform patients if they are using stem cell interventions that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ISSCR president Hans Clevers expresses support for the measure.

The ISSCR joined with more than 60 medical, patient, and academic groups in writing a letter to the U.S. Senate to oppose prohibitions or restrictions that would further impede the use of federal funding for fetal tissue or embryonic stem cell research.

The ISSCR commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its policy direction and enforcement efforts, to provide “bright lines and appropriate oversight” for regulating stem cell treatments and regenerative medicine.

The ISSCR wrote to members of the Texas House of Representatives, U.S., to oppose House Bill 661, House Bill 810, and House Bill 3236, which would allow investigational agents to be sold to patients without first providing rigorous evidence of safety and efficacy. The ISSCR believes the legislation would put patients at serious risk of harm from unproven treatments.

The FY2018 Discretionary Budget Plan put forward by the U.S. Administration includes dramatic cuts in funding for science and research programs that would threaten biomedical research and its translation into new therapies for millions of people worldwide.

The ISSCR Board writes a letter to the stem cell community regarding travel to the ISSCR 2017 meeting, 14-17 June.

The ISSCR issued a statement opposing a U.S. executive order on immigration.

Fetal tissue research has made major contributions to our understanding of biology and the development of new medical technologies, including vaccines for many diseases that have saved millions of lives. The ISSCR is providing a portfolio of examples showing how the use of fetal tissue has led to therapies that have saved lives as well as ways in which fetal tissue research continues to be necessary for medical advances.

In comments to the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the ISSCR supported regulation of autologous products that involve more than minimal manipulation of a patient’s cells and place strict limitations on the direct advertisement of cell-based therapies. The comments were in response to the TGA's call for input from interested parties about the regulation of autologous cell and tissue products.

The ISSCR opposes the REGROW Act, which would allow certain cell and tissue-based therapeutics to be marketed without first providing rigorous evidence of safety and efficacy. If passed, this legislation could negatively impact the development of stem cell therapies, the integrity of the emerging regenerative medicine market, and the health and safety of people using stem cell products approved under this Act.