Swiss to use embryonic stem cells in research
Following hot debate, the Swiss national science foundation (SNSF) has approved funding of a research project in Geneva which will use human embryonic stem cells. The SNSF initially postponed a decision on funding for the project in June, but approval has been given following legal clarification that funding the project would not contravene Swiss law. As well as giving its approval, the SNSF has called for a further clarification in Swiss law of the issue of stem cell research. The SNSF claimed that the favourable decision was made following an assessment of the benefits and risks of this type of research. It claimed that the potential to make progress in areas such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease were a compelling reason for approval. The stem cells to be used in the project will be imported from the USA. The SNSF has set out six strict conditions under which the research can be undertaken, which include being for scientific rather than commercial reasons, being only possible via use of stem cells, that relevant ethical authorities do not object and that the cells' donors give their consent.