UK to gain stem cell 'network'
Print story10-year development plan
Posted in Science, 16th March 2005 16:10 GMT
See what The Register's experts have to say on application security
UK chancellor Gordon Brown today confirmed that the UK will benefit from a new national stem cell research network, dedicted to investigating the therapeutic benefits of the "master" cells as part of a 10-year development plan, Reuters reports.
The announcement comes after leading UK stem cell researchers and big business recently called for the establishment of a charitable foundation with a fighting fund of £100m to keep the UK at the forefront of the field. The government has already pledged £40m over three years for stem cell research to add to the $20m stumped up by the Wellcome Trust.
It's clear, then, that the UK will continue to pursue therapeutic cloning, despite a recent UN blanket ban on human cloning. The UK said it would ignore the non-binding decision which was carried by 84 votes to 34 with 37 abstentions. The US was the major player pushing for the ban.
UK health secretary John Reid confirmed that the UN declaration "will make no difference whatsoever to the position of stem cell research in the UK: therapeutic cloning will continue to be allowed. The UK remains 'open for business' in stem cell research." ®
Related stories
UN approves human cloning ban
Britain talks tough on stem cell research
UK scientists want £100m stem cell foundation
UN committee backs human cloning ban
Congress seeks stem cell side-step
UN to debate embryo cloning
See what The Register's experts have to say on application security
The future of SaaS and IT infrastructure management
Can Outsiders Enhance Exchange?
The Total Economic Impact of Dell's PC products and services
The best practices guide for application security
Reducing messaging and web security costs with managed services
Win a Samsung C6625!
Is your cameraphone an oxymoron?
Reg Mobile and Wireless newsletter is go! go! go!
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter