Stem Cell Research
This article was originally published in RAJ Devices
Executive Summary
Australian Senate lifts ban on therapeutic cloning
Australian Senate lifts ban on therapeutic cloning
The Australian Senate has voted to lift the country's four-year ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), or therapeutic cloning, for use in stem cell research. This decision followed recommendations made by a committee set up to review provisions of the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 20021.
The Senate agreed to a number of amendments to the laws, which would permit certain research involving human embryos under licence. However, the Senate voted to retain the existing prohibitions on certain human reproductive cloning activities, as well as other assisted reproductive technology activities. The House of Representatives will now vote on the bill.
This decision follows a call from the Premier of the State of Victoria, Steve Bracks, for the ban on SCNT for use in research to be lifted2. A report commissioned by the state government and reviewed by two of Australia's leading stem cell researchers explained that the pace of research has increased in the rest of the world, and the only way for Australia to keep up is to allow SCNT in controlled circumstances. Because SCNT can create tailored stem cells that would be a genetic match for patients, the reviewers said the process would help solve the problem of patients rejecting transplanted stem cells3.
“While there is much to do and the road to curing these diseases is a long one, it is clear from this report that our greatest roadblock is our scientists' inability to perform this work in human cells in Australia,” said Mr Bracks in a statement issued by his office in October 2006.
References
1. Senate Daily Summary, 7 November 2006, www.aph.gov.au/senate/pubs/daily/2006/071106.pdf
2. Premier of Victoria, Australia, press release, 2 October 2006, www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/news_item.asp?id=959
3. Key Recent Advances in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, 8 September 2006, www.business.vic.gov.au/busvicwr/_assets/main/lib60041/sti_stemcell.pdf