To derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not knowingly harm embryos.
Mr. ISAKSON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not knowingly harm embryos.
`(a) In General- The Secretary shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of pluripotent stem cells that have the flexibility of embryonic stem cells (whether or not they have an embryonic source), and may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, provided that such isolation, derivation, production, or testing will not involve--
`(1) the creation of a viable human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or
`(2) the destruction or discarding of a human embryo or embryos, or knowingly subjecting a human embryo or embryos to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under section 498(b) of this Act and section 46.204(b) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations.
`(b) Guidelines- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, after consultation with the Director, shall issue final guidelines that--
`(1) provide guidance concerning the next steps required for additional research, which shall include a determination of the extent to which specific techniques may require additional basic or animal research to ensure that any research involving human cells using these techniques would clearly be consistent with the standards established under subsection (a);
`(2) prioritize research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit; and
`(3) consistent with subsection (a), take into account techniques outlined by the President's Council on Bioethics and any other appropriate techniques and research.
`(c) Reporting Requirements- Not later than January 1 of each year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report describing the activities carried out under this section during the fiscal year, including a description of the research conducted under this section.
`(d) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the policy in effect on the date of enactment of this section regarding the eligibility of stem cell lines for funding by the National Institutes of Health.
`(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
`(f) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) HUMAN EMBRYO OR EMBRYOS- The term `human embryo or embryos' includes any organism, not protected as a human subject under part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, as of the date of enactment of this section, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells.
`(2) PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS- The term `pluripotent stem cells' means precursor cells that are capable both of perpetuating themselves as stem cells and of producing all or almost all the cell types of the developing body.
`(3) STEM CELL LINE- The term `stem cell line' means stem cells which have been cultured under in vitro conditions that allow proliferation without differentiation from months to years.
`(4) VIABLE- The term `viable' means material obtained from the in vitro fertilization process that is transferable into the womb.'.
U.S. Congress - Text of S.51 as Introduced in Senate Stem Cell Research bill
