Stem Cell Ethics: A Proactive Approach

 The Hinxton Group, An International Consortium on Stem Cells, Ethics & Law, an esteemed, international and interdisciplinary group of individuals interested in ethical and well-regulated science, most recently issued a consensus statement entitled Science, Ethics and Policy Challenges of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Gametes,  the purpose of which is to outline a set of principled recommendations for how work in this area ought to proceed in the context of national variations in policy.  Debra Mathews, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Science Programs, Berman Institute of Bioethics, sits on its steering committee; Jeremy Sugarman, M.D., Harvey M. Meyerhoff Professor of Bioethics and Medicine, is a member.

It is the policy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine that all research using human embryonic stem cells being conducted by faculty, staff or students or involving the use of JHU SOM facilities is subject to oversight by the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight committee. All such research must be approved by the JHU SOM ESCRO committee.