ESTOOLS - Advances with human embryonic stem cells - Workpackage

• Ethics
• Workpackage
• Ethics Workshops
• Advisory panel
• Constraints on research

 

Workpackage

Led by Professor Göran Hermerén, supported by Professor Tore Nilstun and Kristina Hug, the ESTOOLS workpackage on ethical issues relating to basic human ES cell research will contribute to European discussions on this topic by clarifying the three conditions necessary for the use of human ES cells in research:

1. the importance of the objectives of the research;
2. that the methods and materials used are necessary to achieve the objectives;
3. that there are no less invasive or controversial ways of reaching those objectives.

The researchers in the ethics workpackage, who are all medical ethicists, will make this analysis by:

• identifying the main arguments for and against these conditions;
• making a critical analysis of these arguments;
• identifying unclear points in the interpretation and application of these arguments; and
• identifying the gaps in our knowledge that must be filled to permit decisions about whether the three conditions are satisfied.

The results available to date:

Report from the workshop held in Berlin April 2007 "Ethical Aspects of Stem Cell Research in Europe" - downloadable from the workshop page

Paper "Stem Cell Banks, Repositories and Registries in Europe: An Overview as of May 2008" prepared for the public session "Embryonic stem cell research issues: focus on banking and registry in Europe" on 5 June at the Budapest annual consortium meeting 2008 - downloadable from the consortium meeting page and directly here.

A background paper is being prepared for the Lund October 2008 workshop "Ethical aspects of research on interspecies embryos and iPS cells" and will be made available here. Further information about the workshop.