Provisional Programme (Topics)

A. Stem cells, Biotechnology & Human Rights

B. Important Information about stem cells.

1) What are the stem cells & its unique properties?
2) What are embryonic stem cells (ESCS) & Embryonic Germ Cell (EGCS)?
3) What are adult stem cells?
4) What are the similarities & differences between embryonic & adult stem cells?
5) What are the different sources of both embryonic & adult stem cells?
6) What is the advantage & disadvantage of each source?
7) What is meant by embryonic stem cell line and how can we produce it?
8) How can we differentiate both the Embryonic & Adult stem cells?
9) What is the difference between Pluripotent & Totipotent stem cells?

C. What are the promises of stem cells research, and its potential uses and the obstacles that must be over come prior to the potential uses will be realized?

D. Global Ethics' policy & Guidelines consideration concerning stem cells.
1) U.S.
2) U.K.
3) Islamic Countries

E. Is there any alternative sources for Human Embryo Stem Cells without ethical implications?

I. Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Organismically Dead Embryos

A. Is it Ethically Sound?
i. Can we be certain that the IVF embryos used in this proposal are really dead?
ii. Will this proposal put embryos at additional risk?
iii. Changing practices and incentives for IVF practitioners.
iv. Issues for informed consent.
v. For ethical purposes, is there a sufficiently strong analogy between harvesting cells from dead embryos and harvesting organs or removing tissues from dead persons?

B. Is it Scientifically Sound?
i. Can we find objective markers for organismic death?
ii. Can we, in fact, get usable pluripotent stem cells from dead embryos?
iii. Are the stem cells derived from dead embryos normal and healthy?

C. Is it "Realistic"?
i. Scientific acceptance.
ii. Eligibility for federal funding.

II. Pluripotent Stem Cells via Blastomere Extraction from Living Embryos

A. Is it Ethically Sound?
i. Harm to the embryo?
ii. Are the removed blastomeres themselves equivalent of embryos or capable of developing into them?
iii. Can we perform non-harmful blastomere extraction on embryos that are NOT going to become children?
iv. Is the research necessary to test this proposal, to conduct in an ethically acceptable manner?
v. Changing the practices of assisted reproduction.

B. Is it Scientifically Sound?

C. Is it "Realistic"?
i. Scientific acceptance.
ii. Eligibility for federal funding.

III. Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Biological Artifacts.

A. Is it Ethically Sound?
i. Would not this "artifact" really be a very defective embryo?
ii. The ethics of egg procurement.
iii. Ethical concerns about ANT itself.
iv. Concern about ANT on "slippery slope" grounds.

B. Is it Scientifically Sound?

C. Is it Realistic"?
i. Scientific acceptance.
ii. Eligibility for federal funding.

IV. Pluripotent Stem Cells via Somatic Cell Dedifferentiation

A. Is it Ethically Sound?

B. Is it Scientifically Sound?

C. Is it "Realistic"?
i. Scientific acceptance.
ii. Eligibility for federal funding.

V. Research, Ethics & Stem Cells.
1. EGCS Cells from Fetal Tissue
2. ESCS Cells from Embryos remaining after Infertility Treatments.
3. ESCS from Embryos made solely for research purposes using IVT.
4. ESCS from Embryos made using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer into Oocyet (Cloning).
5. ESCS from Aborted Fetuses.
a) Intended abortion
b) Elective abortion
6. ESCS from the extra Embryos remaining after IVF. (That will be discarded)
7. a) Equity of sharing the products of Research
b) Priority of Research & Funding

VI. Requirements for the Donation of Cadaveric Fetal Tissues & Embryos for Research. (The Discarded One)

A. Informed consent.

B. Can a donor have the right to donate stem cells to particular patient only and not for any others?

C. Can a donor have the right to sell the Embryos & Cadaveric Fetal Tissues?

VII. Intellectual Property of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

VIII. Equity and Priority concerning the Research and Potential Uses of Stem Cells, especially in Developing Countries.

IX. The Ethical Issues about the Import of Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

X. Obligation of the Islamic World towards Flume Stem Cell Research & Future.

XI.
1) Is there any need for National Oversight & Review of HSCS?
2) Is there any need for local review of Derivation protocol?
3) What are the Responsibilities of the Research Agencies & Institutes?
4) What is the Role of NGO's & Private Sectors?