Media Release
Description: Communique from the NHMRC's 155th Session, Canberra |
Type: Ministerial Media Release |
Communique from the NHMRC's 155th Session, Canberra
At the 154th session in September, the National Health and Medical Research Council decided that there should be no clinical trials in animal to human whole organ transplants for a period of five years. At the 155th session on 9th December, the Council considered further the issues of animal cellular therapies and animal external therapies.
The Council determined that there should be no clinical trials in Australia using animal cellular therapies or animal external therapies for five years. Council has asked the Gene and related Therapies Research Advisory Panel of the NHMRC Research Committee to provide regular updates to the Council during this period on new information that arises on the potential benefits and risks for animal-based human treatments. Should new information become available, Council will reconsider its position.
The Council will prepare an expanded statement articulating its position on clinical research involving animal to human transplantation and cellular therapies. Council will consult with relevant parties to ensure that its formal statement does not have unintended consequences for research and existing clinical practice.
The NHMRC will continue to work with relevant authorities and organisations to improve levels of human organ donation in Australia.
Media Note:
Animal cellular therapies are procedures in which animal cells are transplanted or implanted into a human patient to compensate for deficient functioning of the patient's own cells (eg pancreatic islet cells to treat people with diabetes, or brain cells to treat people with Parkinson's Disease).
Animal external therapies are a range of procedures involving contact between human and animal cells or tissues outside the body of the patient. For example, cells or fluids from the patient are perfused through animal cells and returned to the patient.