A roundtable on responsible innovation with autologous stem cells in Australia,Japan and Singapore

We report on a roundtable event hosted in Singapore that sought to identify some of the ethical and regulatory challenges in translating autologous cell-based interventions, particularly those claiming to involve stem cells, into safe and effective therapies and to propose some solutions to encourage responsible innovation with these products. Challenges are identified in the three areas of cell manufacturing and processing, innovative uses of autologous cells in clinical practice and standards of evidence. Proposed solutions are discussed within a co-operative model of statutory laws and regulations that can enable product development with autologous cells and professional codes and standards that can encourage ethical conduct in clinical practice. Future research should be directed toward establishing regional networks for the development of internationally consistent standards in manufacturing and ethical codes of conduct for innovating with stem cells, and other autologous cells, and fostering ongoing exchange between jurisdictions.     

BROADENING THE SCOPE OF DEBATES AROUND STEM CELL RESEARCH

Over the last decade, stem cell research has generated an enormous amount of public, political and bioethical debate. These debates have overwhelmingly tended to focus on two moral issues: the moral status of human embryos and the duty to care for the sick and vulnerable. This preoccupation, especially on the question of moral status, has not only dichotomized the debate around two fundamentally incommensurable positions, it has come at the cost of other important issues largely being ignored. In highlighting some of the bioethical and regulatory deficiencies of this fixation, we draw on recent developments in the experimental use of autologous adult stem cells to argue for a more inclusive approach to the ethical issues surrounding stem cell research.