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Only 5 institutes get registration of Institutional Committee from NAC-SCRT for stem cell research
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Ramesh Shankar, Mumbai
April 28 , 2015
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Even after more than two and half years since the National Apex
Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NAC-SCRT) has become
operational, only 5 institutes across the country have got registration
for the Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research (IC-SCR) to
review and monitor stem cell research at the institutes.
According
to sources, till date 82 organizations/institutes across the country
have applied for registration of their IC-SCRs with NAC-SCRT, out of
which only 5 institutes have fulfilled the criteria and have been
granted registration.
The NAC-SCRT is the apex body constituted
by the Department of Health Research (DHR) to oversee the activities in
the field of stem cell research in India. The NAC-SCRT will examine the
scientific, technical, ethical, legal and social issues involving stem
cell research and therapy in India.
As per the National
Guidelines for Stem Cell Research-2013, the NAC-SCRT will monitor and
oversee activities at national level and the IC-SCR at institutional
level. These oversight committees shall ensure that review, approval and
monitoring of all research projects in the field of stem cell research
are done rigorously and effectively as per the National Guidelines. This
mechanism of additional review has been accepted by the scientific
community in the country and the NAC-SCRT has become operational after
its notification by DHR on 29th October 2012.
The IC-SCR is a
multidisciplinary body at the institutional level. Institutions involved
in stem cell research are required to set up a special review board to
oversee research (basic science and clinical) in this field. It should
be registered with the NAC-SCRT and should provide overview of all
issues related to stem cell research at the institutional level.
The
IC-SCR has to review and approve the scientific merit of research
protocols and will function in compliance with all relevant regulations
and guidelines. It should maintain a register of hES cell research
conducted at the institution and hES cell lines derived or imported by
institutional investigators and notify NAC-SCRT. It has to facilitate
training of investigators involved in stem cell research and submit
annual report to NAC-SCRT.
There should be at least seven members
in the committee and it should include representatives of the public
and persons with expertise in clinical medicine, developmental biology,
stem cell research, molecular biology, assisted reproduction
technology, and ethical and legal issues in stem cell research. It
should have the resources to coordinate reviews of various protocols.
The
chairman of the IC-SCR must have relevant medical/scientific background
and be from outside the institute with no conflict of interest (CoI).
Members from law, ethics and social sciences must be from outside the
institute and with no CoI. Stem cell experts, if possible from outside
the institute, can be the scientific/technical members. Member Secretary
can be from the same institute and must not have any CoI. Any member
having CoI with a particular proposal must abstain from the discussion
and decision making process of that proposal.
IC-SCR members must be familiar with the current bioethical guidelines and guidelines for stem cell research.
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