ICOC Approves Interim Guidelines for Stem Cell Research
The Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee on Wednesday approved interim policies for the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine on research grant applications and human embryonic stem cell research, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Under the guidelines, institutions conducting research funded by Proposition 71 must have oversight committees to monitor protocols. In addition, payments to women for donating eggs for research would be prohibited, except for costs related to the egg donation procedure. The guidelines also would prohibit culturing human embryos after 12 days of development and using human embryos in animal research.
CIRM President Zach Hall on Wednesday said that he would like to begin approving innovation grants of several hundred thousand dollars each and that the institute should begin issuing "safe haven" grants to fund stem cell research laboratories (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 11/3).