ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation: The 2021 Update
This report was co-authored by PaSAGE team member Rosario Isasi.
Stem cells are parent cells that can become different types of cells throughout the body. Because of this, scientists think stem cells may be very useful when creating disease treatments. Research in this field is happening quickly. It is important that this stem cells research stays morally and legally acceptable. A committee of scholars put together guidelines that scientists, law makers, and doctors can turn to. This will help these groups determine what research should and should not be done at this time. For research that is acceptable, it will also help them determine what additional hoops need to be jumped through in order for it to occur.
The committee created buckets into which various new research topics were placed. The buckets represent a spectrum of how acceptable the research is.
Category 1A is for research that is “exempt from review by a specialized oversight process”. This means that although subject to the standard review process, research in this category does not need to be specifically reviewed by a special committee. Category 1B is for research that is “reportable but not typically reviewed by a specialized oversight process”. This means that while it doesn’t have to undergo further review by special committee, this group should be made aware that the research is occurring.
Category 2 is for research that should be reviewed by a specialized oversight process. Category 3Ais for research that is not allowed because it is currently unsafe. Finally, category 3B is for research that is not allowed because there is no scientific reason to do it or it is ethically concern.
For more information on what types of research the committee recommended go into each category, find the link to the full paper below.