The Impact of Cell Culture on Stem Cell Research

IntroductionStem cell research (SCR) and the biomedical potential of developing therapies are crucial topics in biomedicine. Like other biotechnologies, stem cells are context specific entities understood through local conceptualisations of culture, politics, nationhood, as well as their perceived therapeutic efficacy. There is a need to recognise how these developments are understood within the healthcare community and by those who may use them. This protocol describes a systematic literature review that aims to explore healthcare professionals’, healthcare students’, patients’, and donors’ perceptions of SCR and therapy (SCR/T) and the factors that influence their perceptions.Methods and analysisFollowing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines a systematic review will be undertaken. Web of Science, Scopus, Medline+Journals @Ovid and Ariti Library will be systematically searched for studies on healthcare professionals’, healthcare students’, patients’ and donors’ perceptions of SCR and developing therapies. All articles will be screened by a researcher for inclusion and evaluation based on 12 criteria for evaluating qualitative research. At least 20% of articles will also be reviewed by a second researcher and any disagreement will be solved via consensus. Data extracted from the articles will be analysed using thematic synthesis enabling the identification of concepts across studies and the development of new theory.Ethics and disseminationAs part of a larger research project, ethical approval has been provided by the Institutional Research Board (IRB) at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. This review will be able to determine the impact that certain perceptions of SCR/T will have on the development of future medical knowledge and practice. The results of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated at relevant conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018103627.

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Use and Abuse of Empirical Knowledge in Contemporary Bioethics: A Critical Analysis of Empirical Arguments Employed in the Controversy Surrounding Stem Cell Research

Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics ◽

10.1017/s0963180103124073 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 384-392

Author(s):

JAN HELGE SOLBAKK

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Stem Cell Research ◽

Moral Status ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

The Other ◽

Human Embryos ◽

Current Debate ◽

Empirical Knowledge ◽

The Impact

In two articles about the controversy surrounding stem cell research, Søren Holm claims that no argument has so far been advanced in the debate to justify the necessity of destructive research on human embryos for the therapeutic potential of stem cell research to be achieved, and that it is up to the scientists themselves to produce “convincing arguments” for their case. This seemingly defeatist statement on behalf of bioethics originates from the viewpoint that neither a reiteration of old arguments about the moral status of the human embryo nor the generation of new arguments of the same kind are likely to have any positive bearing on the controversy; on the other hand, the impact of science on the current debate is unquestionable, due to three “partially independent” developments:

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The regulation of stem cell research in Ireland: From the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction to the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017

Medical Law International ◽

10.1177/0968533218764543 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 35-58

Author(s):

Ciara Staunton

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Stem Cell Research ◽

General Scheme ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Human Reproduction ◽

Assisted Human Reproduction ◽

The Right ◽

The Impact

In 2005, Ireland’s Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction (CAHR) published a comprehensive report on the regulation of assisted reproduction and associated technologies. Yet since that report, successive Irish governments have failed to bring forth any legislation on this matter. This legislative inaction has resulted in a situation whereby the embryo in vivo has the right to life under the Irish Constitution, but embryos in vitro have no protection in law. Irish policymakers have also endorsed and funded embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) at a European level but continue to prevent researchers in Ireland from accessing any public funds for this research. The publication in October 2017 of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 is thus a welcome development. However, further reading of the Bill reveals that it is restrictive in nature and is likely to stifle research in Ireland. This article will discuss the legal, ethical and scientific developments that have occurred since the CAHR report and the impact, if any, they have had on the development of this Bill. It will critically reflect on provisions of the Bill as they relate to ESCR and make a number of suggestions for reform.

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