NHMRC Considers Public Response to Xenotransplantation Research
Summary Media Release information:
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Description: NHMRC Considers Public Response to Xenotransplantation Research |
Type: Ministerial Media Release |
Close to 400 people attended eight public meetings around Australia last month to discuss whether or not Xenotransplantation research - using animal cells, tissues or organs to treat humans - should proceed in Australia.
Australia currently has no ethical guidelines covering such research.
Public meetings, hosted by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), were advertised widely and held in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Melbourne and Hobart.
Chair of the NHMRC's Xenotransplantation Working Party, Dr Jack Sparrow, said issues raised included animal welfare, possible cross-species infection, patient outcomes, ethical and religious considerations, possible alternatives and scientific methods.
"Xenotransplantation has become a focus for transplantation research in recent years because there are currently not enough human organ or tissue donors to meet demand. Many patients, who would benefit from a transplant wait in vain for donor organs to become available," he explained.
"Supporters of Xenotransplantation say the procedure has the potential to treat diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease, as well as diabetes and stroke. They say it would provide a potentially unlimited supply of cells, tissues and organs for use in humans.
"Most importantly, they argue it could 'buy time' while transplant patients await a suitable donor," he said.
"However, the Working Party must be satisfied that the views and wishes of the wider community are taken into account before deciding whether or not research is to proceed and if so, establishing the ethical parameters for clinical research.
"We have made no decision either way. We will consider all comments made during the public meetings and all submissions received to determine whether we do indeed need to develop ethical guidelines around this type of research in Australia," Dr Sparrow said.
The closing date for submissions was Friday 12 March 2004, and all submissions, together with comments made at the public meetings, will be considered by the Working Party and its Animal Issues Subcommittee in the coming weeks.
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