STEM CELL RESEARCH TO PAVE THE WAY FOR MEDICAL CURES
Published Friday, 12 October, 2007 at 01:33 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Legislation passed in State Parliament tonight paves the way for research involving embryonic stem cells, potentially leading to the discovery of medical cures in the Smart State.
Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the Research Involving Human Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning Amendment Act 2007 mirrored Commonwealth legislation after being subject to a conscience vote.
After a debate of just over eleven hours the voted passed 48-34.
“Embryonic stem cell research is an issue which has divided both sides of politics in Parliament,” Ms Bligh said.
“It raised important moral and ethical questions about medical research involving embryos and I respect every Member’s right to base their vote on their own beliefs – not along party lines.
“However, I’m pleased the Bill was passed because it build’s Queensland’s reputation as a research centre of excellence.
“For Queensland to thrive as the Smart State and potentially discover cures for Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron and other conditions, embryonic stem cell research must be allowed but only under tight national restrictions.”
Ms Bligh said the amendments lifted bans on the creation of human embryos by means other than fertilisation for research purposes using a technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer.
“Somatic cell nuclear transfer involves removing the nucleus from an unfertilised egg cell and replacing it with the nucleus from another cell, usually tissue cells such as skin or muscle cells,” she said.
“The egg cell is then stimulated to induce the cell to fuse with the new nucleus and develop into an embryo. The objective is to eventually remove the stem cells from the embryo for research.
“The Bill does not allow the production of embryos created by the fertilisation of an egg by sperm to be produced for research.”
Ms Bligh said stem cell research provided scientists with the opportunity to understand how cells differentiate and transform into specialised cells, thereby giving them greater insights into how diseases occur.
“Creation of embryonic stem cells with specific targeted diseases will assist scientists to obtain a better understanding of diseased cells and may also lead to the identification of drugs and treatments for diseases,” she said.
“There is also the real possibility that in the future stem cell research will enable scientists to create cells and tissues to replace or regenerate tissues that are either diseased or have been destroyed.
“This research, under strict national controls, may ultimately have a profound effect on the ability to treat a range of debilitating conditions such as spinal injuries, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease and multiple sclerosis.”
Mr Robertson said the Act will maintain existing bans on research activities widely considered unacceptable such as:
• Cloning a human for reproductive purposes;
• Creating a human embryo by fertilisation of a human egg by human sperm for a purpose other than achieving pregnancy;
• Making heritable alternations to a human embryo;
• Collecting a human embryo from the body of a woman for research;
• Creating a human embryo into which the cell of an animal has been introduced; and
• Placing a human embryo in an animal or an animal embryo into a human
“Anyone who undertakes any of these banned research practices can face up to 15 years imprisonment.
“The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will tightly regulate all research involving human embryos.
“Those carrying out this research will require a licence from the NHMRC9 and follow very clear and strict guidelines.”
The Queensland Act now mirrors Commonwealth legislation passed in April this year based on an independent legislative review which consulted widely with ethicists, IVF practitioners, scientists, researchers and religious representatives and the broader community.
New South Wales and Victoria have already passed mirroring legislation.
11 October, 2007
Media contact: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500
Minister Robertson’s Office (07) 3234 1185
Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the Research Involving Human Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning Amendment Act 2007 mirrored Commonwealth legislation after being subject to a conscience vote.
After a debate of just over eleven hours the voted passed 48-34.
“Embryonic stem cell research is an issue which has divided both sides of politics in Parliament,” Ms Bligh said.
“It raised important moral and ethical questions about medical research involving embryos and I respect every Member’s right to base their vote on their own beliefs – not along party lines.
“However, I’m pleased the Bill was passed because it build’s Queensland’s reputation as a research centre of excellence.
“For Queensland to thrive as the Smart State and potentially discover cures for Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron and other conditions, embryonic stem cell research must be allowed but only under tight national restrictions.”
Ms Bligh said the amendments lifted bans on the creation of human embryos by means other than fertilisation for research purposes using a technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer.
“Somatic cell nuclear transfer involves removing the nucleus from an unfertilised egg cell and replacing it with the nucleus from another cell, usually tissue cells such as skin or muscle cells,” she said.
“The egg cell is then stimulated to induce the cell to fuse with the new nucleus and develop into an embryo. The objective is to eventually remove the stem cells from the embryo for research.
“The Bill does not allow the production of embryos created by the fertilisation of an egg by sperm to be produced for research.”
Ms Bligh said stem cell research provided scientists with the opportunity to understand how cells differentiate and transform into specialised cells, thereby giving them greater insights into how diseases occur.
“Creation of embryonic stem cells with specific targeted diseases will assist scientists to obtain a better understanding of diseased cells and may also lead to the identification of drugs and treatments for diseases,” she said.
“There is also the real possibility that in the future stem cell research will enable scientists to create cells and tissues to replace or regenerate tissues that are either diseased or have been destroyed.
“This research, under strict national controls, may ultimately have a profound effect on the ability to treat a range of debilitating conditions such as spinal injuries, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease and multiple sclerosis.”
Mr Robertson said the Act will maintain existing bans on research activities widely considered unacceptable such as:
• Cloning a human for reproductive purposes;
• Creating a human embryo by fertilisation of a human egg by human sperm for a purpose other than achieving pregnancy;
• Making heritable alternations to a human embryo;
• Collecting a human embryo from the body of a woman for research;
• Creating a human embryo into which the cell of an animal has been introduced; and
• Placing a human embryo in an animal or an animal embryo into a human
“Anyone who undertakes any of these banned research practices can face up to 15 years imprisonment.
“The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will tightly regulate all research involving human embryos.
“Those carrying out this research will require a licence from the NHMRC9 and follow very clear and strict guidelines.”
The Queensland Act now mirrors Commonwealth legislation passed in April this year based on an independent legislative review which consulted widely with ethicists, IVF practitioners, scientists, researchers and religious representatives and the broader community.
New South Wales and Victoria have already passed mirroring legislation.
11 October, 2007
Media contact: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500
Minister Robertson’s Office (07) 3234 1185