Stem Cell Funding Under Threat: Greens

The Chair of the Australian Stem Cell Centre, Professor Martin Pera, has been warned by Greens Leader Bob Brown that they must choose their research partners carefully or risk jeopardizing their multi-million dollar funding grants from the Federal Government.

The institute which is at the cutting edge of stem cell research, has since it’s inception been subject to complaints by various social and religious organisations that take morel exception to the potential of this controversial field of study.

Whilst the institute itself is subject to tight regulation and ethical oversight, the agreements that have been signed with partners in at least eight countries facilitate the sharing of research findings. The findings from partner institutes will be governed by their own internal ethical oversight, and members of the Greens are concerned some member nations might have more lax ethical oversight.

Whilst China was not singled out, The Greens have consistently clashed  with the emerging superpower usually over mining issues and human rights. Whether this warning shot represents the opening of a new front on ethical issues, it is too early to tell. But The Greens are adamant:

The Greens are prepared to use their balance of power in this Parliament to ensure all recipients of Government funding play by the rules… and that includes partners of these recipients, and their partners’ partners.

China has been tightening the regulation of the industry but has come under criticism for ineffective policy implementation recently by an investigation by Nature Magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

Tagged stem cells