UCC approves use of embryonic stem cells by single vote
UCC has become the first university in the country to officially sanction the controversial use of embryonic stem cells for research.
By a single vote, UCC's 40-strong governing body decided to allow embryonic stem cell research to be carried out under strict guidelines drawn up by the University Research Ethics Board (UREB).
The vote was 16 to 15 in favour, with nine abstentions.
Researchers believe stem cells have enormous potential in the treatment of major illnesses such as cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's and Parkinsons disease; and adult stem cells are already being used in a number of Irish research programmes.
However, UCC is the first university to approve the use of the more controversial embryonic stem cells.
A spokeswoman for UCC said yesterday that the code of practice for research using human embryonic stem cell line (hESC) was approved by the Academic Council recently and referred on to the governing body for its consideration.
Effectively, the council's recommendation now becomes policy in the university.
"From now on, UCC researchers who seek to carry out research must apply to do so and can only engage in such research using hESC lines imported from approved sources in other jurisdictions," said the spokeswoman.
Every research project involving the use of human embryonic stem cells must be submitted to UREB for ethical review.
A statement issued by UCC said: "This is the first time that proposed research in this area in Ireland will be subject to ethical guidelines and oversight."
According to the statement, the proposed policy seeks to ensure that in the current legal vacuum that exists in this area in Ireland, university researchers may only carry out such research "subject to a strict internal regime of scientific and ethical oversight".
"There is currently no legislation or national policy in Ireland on the issue of embryonic stem cell research, nor is there any legal impediment on the importation or use of embryonic stem cell lines by scientists."
Strictest
"We reiterate, that in the absence of either national legislation or policy, the university has sought to take steps that would ensure the strictest internal control over research in this area," the statement added.
Reacting to UCC's decision last night, Audrey Dillon of the Pro-Life Campaign said it was "a gross misrepresentation" for the university to claim it has found an ethical solution to embryo research that did not involve destroying human life.
Dr Dillon stated: "Under the UCC proposal, human embryos are destroyed somewhere else. The university imports the stem cells to use in their research, hypocritically denying their complicity in the killing.
"Everyone wants to see cures for chronic diseases and disabilities but we cannot ethically destroy one human life to prolong another."
MEP for Ireland South Kathy Sinnott said that yesterday was a sad day for both UCC and Irish science.
"Already hundreds of genuine treatments have been developed from the ethical research taking place with stem cells, and not one has been developed by embryonic, but still UCC can not see this," she said.
Ms Sinnott has sought a meeting with the president of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy, and Deirdre Madden, chairperson of the UREB, on the matter.
- Michelle McDonagh
