Recruiting donors for stem cell research -National collaboration of hESC coordinators

人类胚胎干细胞可以从非常早期(6天)发育的胚胎中分离出来，这些胚胎是作为某些体外受精治疗的一部分或剩余在实验室中生长的。在一定条件下，这些细胞可以发育成不同类型的组织，如神经或胰腺，未来有望用于治疗帕金森S病和糖尿病等退行性疾病，或通过用实验室培养的健康细胞取代患病或受损的细胞来治疗脊髓损伤。全世界已开发的胚胎干细胞系的数量仍然相当有限，需要进一步研究，以找出培养它们的最佳方法，使它们能够安全地用于临床。为了促进这些发展，英国已经建立了一个国家干细胞库，在那里可以储存和存储干细胞系，测试安全性，然后提供研究和临床使用。在英国，所有来自胚胎的干细胞都受到严格监控，并需要获得人类受精和胚胎学管理局的许可证。这也是一项许可条件，任何开发出的合适的干细胞株的样本都必须发送到英国干细胞库，从那里向英国和国外的研究科学家提供这些干细胞。从道德上讲，得出这些胚胎干细胞的关键取决于识别哪些患者准备捐献，以研究他们的试管受精辅助受孕治疗不再需要的任何合适的胚胎。2003年，MRC提供了资金，用于任命不直接参与干细胞提取的护士协调员，他们可以为可能准备将多余胚胎捐赠给干细胞计划的患者提供咨询和建议。他们非常成功，已经从这个来源向干细胞库提交了一些品系。他们还建立了一个英国干细胞协调员网络(HESCCO)，以促进他们的合作，并通过该网络为希望捐赠干细胞研究的患者制定了一份国家同意书。对MRC的投标是继续为护士协调员及其网络提供资金。

Human embryonic stem cells can be isolated from very early (6 days) developing embryos which have been grown in the laboratory as part of, or surplus to certain kinds of IVF treatment. Under certain conditions, these cells can be made to develop into different types of tissues, such as nerve or pancreas which it is hoped in the future, may be useful in treating degenerative diseases such as Parkinson s disease and diabetes, or in spinal injuries by replacing the diseased or damaged cells with healthy cells which have been grown in the laboratory. The number of embryonic stem cell lines that have been developed worldwide is still quite limited and further research is required to find out the best means to grow them in ways which will allow them to be safe for clinical use. In order to facilitate these developments, a National Stem Cell Bank has been established in the UK where stem cell lines can be deposited and stored, tested for safety, and then made available for research and clinical use. All stem cell derivation from embryos is strictly monitored in the UK and requires a licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. It is also a condition of licence that a sample of any suitable stem cell lines developed must sent to the UK Stem Cell Bank from where they are made available to research scientists in the UK and abroadDeriving these embryonic stem cells ethically is critically dependent on identifying those patients who are prepared to donate to research any suitable embryos that are no longer needed for their IVF assisted conception treatment. In 2003 the MRC made funds available for the appointment of Nurse Coordinators, not involved directly in the stem cell derivation, who could counsel and advise patients that may be prepared to donate surplus embryos to stem cell programmes. They have been very successful and a number of lines have been submitted to the stem cell bank from this source. They have also established a UK network of stem cell coordinators (hESCCO) which facilitates their collaborative working and through which they have developed a national consent form for patients wishing to donate to stem cell research. The bid to the MRC is to continue funding of the nurse coordinators and their network.