A Global Comparison on Stem Cell Research Exploring Religion, Ethics, and Policy: Based on a Four Part Series by Public Radio International

Boyd, Clark, Mary K. Magistad, and Aaron Schachter. "The Global Race for Stem Cell Therapies." The World from BBC, PRI,WGBH. Public Radio International: Global Perspectives for an American Audience. Chicago, Illinois, 29 Apr. 2005. Public Radio International. 29 Apr. 2005. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. <http://www.pri.org/theworld/?q=node/3607>.


Image above copyright MBBNet.umn.edu

What direction globe headed in with stem cell research and therapy? What country is leading the way in research and why? Public Radio International did a wonderful exploratory four part series back in late April 2005 comparing four very different countries progress (or lack thereof) in stem cell research and their current status in the “race”, taking into account not just the science but also ethics, religion, policy, and regulation.

The (Not So Mighty) USA

This four part series begins with correspondent Clark Boyd's account of America’s history in stem cell research, describing United States current status on research and policy, drawing insight and commentary from scientists, doctors, politicians, and committee leaders.

In particular, he talks with George Daley, a Harvard Medical School stem cell researcher about the need for societal and governmental support in stem cell research in this country. In 2001, George W. Bush took a stance on stem cell research, restricting scientists from working on embryonic stem cells harvested after a new governmental policy was established allowing research with government funding. Part of what is holding the United States back, aside from the lack of government funding and nationwide support, is the limited availability technology and materials. Old embryos do not provide nearly as accurate results as fresh ones and therefore are a wasted investment. Daley made a great analogy that we all can relate to by stating simply that, “…working with outdated stem cells is like using an outdated operating system on a computer…”.

Daley and Boyd highlighted that the fact that America right now is experiencing a real brain drain in this kind of research. Great scientists educated in the US cannot do their research here if they want to be competitive, so they leave to places like China, Britain, and Israel. In these countries, there is promise of potential, growth, support and funding to effectively search for solutions to pertinent medical problems.

The Big GB- Stem Cell Research in Britain

Great Britain is the leader in embryonic stem cell research and has been for years. This is largely due to effective regulation, which instills trust between scientists and the public. Early on, Great Britain viewed stem cell research as a lucrative opportunity and took advantage of the scientific opportunity.

In the 1980s, Parliament organized a committee to specifically address ethical concerns and scientific research limitations. They came to the conclusion that, “Scientists can ethically, use early embryos for research purposes, but, that any such research work should be strictly regulated.” From that committee came the birth of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority in 1990. The job of this organization, as illustrated by the chair, Suzi Leather, is to

1. Control what Scientists and Doctors do with research and therapeutic applications
2. The instill public confidence that the embryos and research are put to use for the greater good, meaning that some crazy scientist isn’t in the back of the lab using the funding and technology to clone a girlfriend.
   

Scientists and doctors from Great Britain interviewed for this segment supporting the research (a few from the USA) had described the process for approval more “bureaucratic” than they would like it to be, but effective never the less.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, overseers of this study, sets the standard for other countries wishing to invest deeply in stem cell research.

China- The “Wild West” of Stem Cell Research

The third installment in this four-part series on stem cell research is by the World's Mary Kay Magistad, reporting from Beijing. Magistad begins the segment about what China is doing with their research on stem cells with Dr. Zhao, an American educated Medical scientist who decided to move back to China to seek opportunities in stem cell research not available anywhere else in the world. Dr. Zhao has worked on all types of stem cells, and has explicitly stated that Chinese people and their government harbor the same view on this research: overwhelming support. This, as stated by Karin Sederek, an American paralyzed seeking alternatives in China, is because China's Confucian culture describes, “Human life is seen to begin at birth, not at conception”. Dr. Huang, a Rutgers-educated doctor at Beijing's West Hill Hospital, is attempting to cure Sederek's paralysis with cutting edge neuronal stem cell therapy, and he believes that “it's unethical not to use aborted fetuses and embryos for medical work”.

China is rapidly advancing in the field of regenerative medicine, hoping to use stem cell research to cure and treat a myriad of diseases afflicting people across the globe. They are pumping money into labs, hospitals, and facilities for stem cell research and therapy, regulating very little, hoping a breakthrough will elevate China into a “scientific superpower” status, and maybe garnering a few Nobel prizes on the way.

Israel- Holy Land of…Embryonic Stem Cells Created in Labs, Not Wombs?

“Judaic duty to care for the sick trumps ethical concerns over the rights of embryos created in the laboratory.”

Correspondent Aaron Schachter tops off the search comparing stem cell research and policy globally with the final segment, which focuses on Israel.

Israeli lawmakers declare that embryos created outside the womb are not against Jewish law, as opposed to harvested embryos created inside a womb. This segment takes a deeply religious element and weaves it into the motivation for stem cell research, in Israel specifically.

This segment provides a stark contrast between the religious involvements on stem cell research in the United States versus Israel. In the United States, many people, Christians in particular, argue that life begins in the womb at conception, and that that is precious. Israelis believe the same. However, in the United States, that stance is used as a weapon against all forms of embryonic stem cell research (both in a petri dish and in a womb). It is interesting to me that such a deeply religious country is spearheading such a scientific project. However, Rabbi Weiner points out that this medical science is based on the fundamental Jewish principle called “pikuach nefesh”, meaning that one must do all that one can to save a human life.

Israeli stem cell research is tightly regulated with stringent requirements for publishing, peer-reviewing, and the like. Scientists must go before a committee to state an intent in research to gain permission for further study, and cannot pay for a woman’s eggs or use such research to clone a human being. Israel was able to get ahead in research and development relative to the rest of the world because they had the ability to tackle ethical, political, and regulatory issues very early on. Professor Shraga Blazer of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa who chaired a committee that established some of Israel’s stem cell research regulations, expressed his belief that “the benefit [of embryonic stem cell research] is much, much beyond the fear of the slippery slope."

Israel allocates public and private funds for this research, both of which are regulated by Israeli law. Israel is leading research on regenerate livers using stem cells, and is the sole innovator of a stem-cell based pacemaker that could one day replace electronic pacemakers.


-Margeaux Berroth
Brown University Class of 2011
Human Biology Concentrator