Switzerland Set To Start New Stage of Stem Cell Research
Related News: Stem Cells and GovernmentA new law regarding embryonic stem cell research comes into force on March 1 of this year, putting Switzerland on similar footing with other European nations.
The new legislation, approved by two thirds of voters last November after a sometimes bitter debate, offers the hope of overcoming some incurable diseases.
The law allows researchers to take stem cells from "supernumerary" human embryos, in other words embryos created for in vitro fertilisation but not actually needed for implantation....
Scientists hope that research on stem cells will one day help in the fight against degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
The law was passed by parliament in December 2003, but a referendum opposing the legislation was organised by anti-abortion groups. These activists say that the human embryo is for all intents and purposes a person.
Left-wing environmentalists also opposed the law, sceptical of developments in genetic research.
As of March 1, existing stem cell research projects must be declared within three months to the Federal Health Office.
New projects will be subject to authorisation by the office based on the recommendations of a specially appointed ethics committee.
"We do not expect to receive many applications on March 1," said Anita Holler, of the office’s Biomedicine Division.
During the debate preceding the referendum, several researchers let it be known that, if the vote was favourable, they would be putting forward projects.
"It is a fair assumption that the first projects to get off the ground will be using imported cells, because creating new lines of stem cells from supernumerary embryos takes time,".....
Posted on February 28, 2005 03:16 PM