Dear friends, colleagues and members of the Stem Cell Action community,

Yesterday morning, GPI proudly submitted a comprehensive letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) commenting on the Draft Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research.  With the continuous stalwart support of our science, ethics and legal advisors, GPI developed a highly detailed, thoughtful and legalistic response to the NIH Draft Guidelines, which will hopefully assist the NIH in achieving a global leadership position of global leadership in human stem cell research.  Historically significant references were included to place our recommendation in context with NIH's mission and involvement in the field.  The complete letter is available at www.genpol.org for public viewing. 

GPI's comments comprise the following ten points.

I. Significance of Human Stem Cell Research
II. Significance of the NIH Guidelines for Stem Cell Research
III. Five Part Framework for Comparing and Contrasting hSC Research Guidelines
IV. Need to Apply the NIH Stem Cell Research Guidelines as a Safe Harbor
V. Issues relating to the Types of Research Proposed as Ineligible for NIH Funding
VI. Issues of Drafting Precision, Interpretation, and Implementation
VII. NIH's Leadership in Extending Stem Cell Research and Medicine
VIII. Addressing the Projected Growth of Stem Cell-related Clinical Trials
IX. Importance of Funding Studies of Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications in hSC Research
X. Periodic Review and Evolution of the Guidelines

GPI is grateful to Alan L. Jakimo, a Partner in the New York office of Sidley Austin LLP, for his overall assistance as principal author of GPI's letter. Alan is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Hofstra University and serves as a member of the GPI Legal Advisory Board.

We acknowledge the excellent comments of other GPI advisors including Louis Guenin, Lecturer on Ethics, Harvard medical School; Janet Dolgin, Professor of Health Care Law, Hofstra Law School; Rosario Isasi, Faculty of Law, University of Montreal; Professor Russell Korobkin, UCLA Law School and Owen Hughes.

GPI is exceptionally pleased to have been the subject of an Organizational Profile in the award-winning, Medline-indexed journal, Regenerative Medicine.  Please read the article here.

Finally, we look forward to seeing all of you at the 2009 World Stem Cell Summit. Please visit our web site often to get updates on the single global event dedicated to uniting the stem cell community. www.worldstemcellsummit.com

Cordially,


Bernard Siegel
Executive Director
Genetics Policy Institute
11924 Forest Hill Blvd. Suite 22
Wellington, Florida 33411
main: 888-238-1423
direct: 305-801-4928
www.genpol.org