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Only 5 institutes registered for stem cell research by NAC-SCRT

 

Clinical courses

National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NAC-SCRT), authorize only 5 institutes across the country to get registration for the Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research (IC-SCR) to review and monitor stem cell research at the institutes.

Upto now 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 process and have been granted registration.

The NAC-SCRT is the apex body constituted by the Department of Health Research (DHR) to monitor and review 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. NAC-SCRT will also maintain a registry for all clinical trials that are conducted in the country, along with the SC therapy clinics and patients and volunteers participating in it. Currently all trials are supposed to be self regulated under IC-SCRT.

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 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 provide 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 which 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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