Canadian Institute for Health Research Guidelines:
March 5th 2002

1) Human embryonic stem cell research eligible for funding:

• When using pre-existing human embryonic stem cell research;
• When using embryos created for reproductive purposes which are no longer required;
• Where the persons for whom the embryos were created have given free and informed consent for their use in research; and,
• When there were no commercial transactions involved in the creation and use of the embryos.

2) Stem cells from fetal tissue or adult stem cells eligible for funding under specific conditions:

Expanded: Version of the above: (1 and 2)

• Research to derive and study cells from embryos, human fetal tissue, amniotic fluid, umbilical cords, and placentas provided that embryos are created for reproductive purposes and no longer required: there is free and informed consent from all parties; and there is no impact on a pregnant woman's decision to continue the pregnancy.
• Research to derive and study stem cells would be eligible for funding, given free and informed consent from the prospective research participant or, in the case of legal incompetence or death, by a legally competent third party.
• Research on cell lines that have been created in Canada or elsewhere, if they were created in accordance with CIHR guidelines.
• Research involving grafting human stem cells into non-human adult animals, if the research is designed to reconstitute a specific tissue or organ to derive a preclinical model and there is no possibility of reproduction.
• Research involving grafting human stem cells into legally competent human beings, provided that there is overwhelming evidence of safety and efficacy, and the research is carried out in well-designed clinical trials with free and informed consent from all individuals.

3) Funding would be banned on the following:

• research leading to human cloning, reproductive and therapeutic cloning;
• research involving the creation of embryos strictly for research purposes;
• research combining non-human stem cells with a human embryo or fetus and human stem cells with a non-human embryo or fetus.

Expanded version of above:

• Research involving the creation of human embryos specifically for deriving stem cells.
• Research involving somatic cell nuclear transfer into a human oocyte that has had its nucleus removed, to develop human stem cell lines (cloning)
• Research involving the directed donation of stem cell lines to particular individuals other than autologous donation.
• Research in which human or non-human stem cells are combined with a human embryo, grafted to a human fetus, or combined with a non-human embryo or fetus.

What this means in simple language: Canada will fund:

Research which destroys the child created by reproductive technology - but now unwanted by his/her parents.

Research which uses fetal tissue from children who have been aborted.

We now have scientific vultures - hovering over fertility and abortion clinics.

What you can do :

1) Call your Member of Parliament & complain:

Why have these guidelines been issued when we are awaiting proposed legislation which will ensure public debate?

Demand that a moratorium should be placed on these guidelines until the democratic process has a chance to address this research.

These guidelines will ensure that millions of dollars will be poured into a black hole - rather than being used for ethical and proven adult stem cell research.

Demand that the government provide us with updated information on the track records of destructive embryonic research and adult (post-natal) research. That way we will be able to have an informed debate.

This will be the first time that funding will be allowed for research which requires the killing of the human subject involved in research - which is a landmark departure from research guidelines.