Go-Ahead Given for Human/Animal Embryo Research
Regulators have, on paper, approved the creation of human/animal embryos for use in medical research. However, as per the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, applications made by scientists requiring use of such dual life forms will need to be on an individual basis. Given that hybrid fusions of human and animal material could open up new avenues of research into treating conditions including Alzheimer's disease, the public are, added the HFEA, "at ease" when it comes to the idea.
The hybrid embryos would be created by fusing animal eggs and human cells, the end product of which would be used as a source of stem cell extraction. Once this process was complete, the embryo would be binned within a two-week timeframe.
Stem cells themselves are the foundations of the human body's framework and, potentially, can mutate into any kind of tissue. This renders them an essential part of 21st century medical research. Presently, scientists are restricted to sourcing stem cells from excess human eggs involved in fertility treatment. The availability of these, however, is limited, and their quality varies.
Scientists based at both Newcastle University and London's Kings College have, to date, made applications to the HFEA in respect of using human/animal embryos. Pharmaceutical International understands that hearings relating to the pair of applications will take place in two months time, following which, more scientists are expected to act similarly.
Representatives from both establishments have lauded the HFEA's announcement. Kings Colleges' Dr Stephen Minger, stated he "applauded" the action, based on it being the sole possible option, ethically speaking, if medical research was to advance. His comments were echoed by Newcastle University's Lyle Armstrong, who described it as "excellent news". He continued: "It is a positive outcome not just for our work but for the progress of British science in general and we hope that this will lead to new technologies to benefit everyone. It does seem a little abhorrent at first analysis, but you have to understand we are using very, very little information from the cow in order to do this reprogramming idea.
"It's not our intention to create any bizarre cow-human hybrid, we want to use those cells to understand how to make human stem cells better."
Elsewhere, the positivity continued. As per the British Medical Association's ethics committee's chairman, Dr Tony Calland, "major breakthroughs in treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other serious diseases" could now result.
The HFEA's approval coincides with efforts being made by the UK government to establish up to date regulations concerning stem cell research, as current legislation is now archaic. While, in 2006, a white paper proposed the technique be outlawed, in more recent times, a revised bill suggested the proposed human/animal hybrids would be accepted, as long as the balance was in the order of 99.9 per cent human/0.1 per cent animal.
The legislation remains unpassed. However, the HFEA took the decision to forge ahead with an in-house review prior to the government legislating the bill, so that the flow of medical research would not be interrupted. Consequently, the regulatory body will permit provision to scientists of the licences required to undertake research of this kind.
From the campaigners, the reaction was one of extreme anger. One opponent group is the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. Its secretary, Anthony Ozimic, described the HFEA's announcement as deplorable. "This is not just a case of the 'yuk' factor - there are grave ethical and moral objections to this research and the way it is being promoted", he said.
Highlighting how the decision was made after lengthy consideration, an HFEA spokeswoman stated: "This is not a total green light for hybrid research, but recognition that this area of research can, with caution and careful scrutiny, be permitted." She added to this that opinion among members of the public was "very finely divided". Generally speaking, support from the UK population would only result from strict regulation, and on the premise that medical progression resulted.
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Research and Development Analyst
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