Parliament urged to overcome embryo research reservations
Noëlle Lenoir, President of the European Group on Ethics (EGE) urged the European Parliament to reconsider ethical reservations concerning stem cell research on 27 November. Speaking at a meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee, Ms Lenoir argued that, in view of the global market, Europe should think twice about ethical reservations in the field of stem cell research. Such research in the USA, Japan and Australia, which has been privately funded has been intensive as it has attracted enormous investment. The Parliament has however been sceptical about endorsing further research, and adopted a resolution in September 2000 calling for all embryonic research, one possible origin of stem cells, to be halted. Ms Lenoir spoke of the opportunities as well as the risks of stem cell research, highlighting gene therapy and therapeutic transplantation as future possibilities. She also highlighted the problems arising from the diverse legal situation in the Member States. New legislation is however now being drafted in many states as a response to the challenge of stem cell research.