"CIHR will establish an electronically accessible national registry of human embryonic stem cell lines generated in Canada. This registry will minimize the need to generate large numbers of cell lines, which should decrease the need for donation of large numbers of embryos.
All human embryonic stem cell lines generated using CIHR funds will be listed with the registry and made available by the researcher to other researchers, subject to reasonable cost-recovery charges. Participation in this registry will be a prerequisite for obtaining CIHR funding for human pluripotent stem cell research." (Section 6.0)
In contrast, all other provisions of the Guidelines apply to all research conducted under the auspices of an institution that receives any Agency funding.
The planned incorporation of the Guidelines into the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS) is an argument in favor of expanding the scope of the registry. Such incorporation would, per force, expand the registry's scope because compliance with the TCPS is required for all research conducted in institutions receiving funds from the Agencies. It is also felt that the registry would be less useful if it did not include all hESC lines derived under the auspices of an institution receiving Agency funds.
SCOC is soliciting your opinion on this matter.
The survey will be open until February 15, 2008.
