ICMR to Hold 'Public Consultation' on Guidelines for Stem Cell Research Regulation

The Indian Council of Medical Research will hold its fourth 'public consultation' on the guidelines for stem cell research regulation in Delhi on December 17.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is to hold its fourth 'public consultation' on the guidelines for stem cell research regulation in Delhi on December 17 to evolve a consensus on the document among the various stakeholders like patient groups, clinicians, scientists, NGOs, religious groups, media, social groups, biotech companies, pharma companies, etc.

The ICMR and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) jointly had formulated Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Therapy in the year 2007 providing ethical and scientific directions to scientists and clinicians working in the field.

To evolve a consensus on the guidelines among various stakeholders, the ICMR had embarked on a 'public consultation' as the union health ministry, after issuing the guidelines in 2007,