Issue 356 (03 May 2006)

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Prisoners, their wives and the right to reproduce

30 April 2006 - by Professor Emily Jackson

In the recent case of Dickson v UK, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), by a majority, decided that the British government's decision to deny a prisoner and his wife access to artificial insemination (AI) facilities was compatible with their rights under the European Convention of Human Rights, as...[Read More]

New website for ART success rates in USA

30 April 2006 - by Julian Jenkins

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) has launched a website to provide patients with information about Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) in the US. In particular, this website provides contact details of over 347 infertility clinics with individual success rates for different ART treatments as...[Read More]

X-SCID gene therapy cancer risk in mice

27 April 2006 - by BioNews

Replacement genes used to treat an inherited immune disorder could trigger cancer, new research carried out on rodents suggests. The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that treating mice with a normal copy of the gene defective in X-linked severe combined immune deficiency (X-SCID) results in cancer of the...[Read More]

Genetic clues to chronic fatigue syndrome - correction

30 April 2006 - by BioNews

In BioNews 355, we published an article on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which detailed how US researchers have identified a set of genetic changes commonly found in people with the condition. Due to an editing error, we unfortunately mis-quoted Ben Goertzel, one of study's authors, saying 'The idea that these...[Read More]

World Stem Cell Hub is shut down

30 April 2006 - by BioNews

The World Stem Cell Hub - set up last year at Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea - is the latest victim of the ongoing Korean stem cell and cloning saga. The hub, which was established to create 'a global network' of stem cell lines created in countries across the world...[Read More]

UK 'fertility tourists' urged to think carefully before travelling for treatment

30 April 2006 - by BioNews

The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has urged couples seeking fertility treatments to 'think twice' about travelling to other countries for an 'IVF holiday'. The HFEA, which was set up in 1991 to regulate, license and monitor the provision of fertility treatment in the UK, said that couples...[Read More]

Lesbian appeals to supreme court over refusal of fertility treatment

30 April 2006 - by BioNews

A lesbian woman, from California, US, is appealing a court decision that upheld a decision made by her doctors to withhold fertility treatment from her on religious grounds. Her case will be heard in the California Supreme Court, the highest court in the state, after having been heard in various...[Read More]

Stem cell hope for genetic kidney disease

02 May 2006 - by BioNews

A team of US scientists has managed to successfully treat mice with symptoms of a genetic kidney disease, using bone marrow stem cells. The researchers, based at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, transplanted stem cells into animals affected by Alport syndrome, and saw a significant improvement in their condition...[Read More]

US stem cell news

02 May 2006 - by BioNews

The Senate Health Care Committee in the US state of Florida voted 7-1 last week in favour of a bill that would provide state funding for embryonic stem (ES) cell research. Senate Bill 468, sponsored by Democrat Senator Ron Klein, would provide $15 million of state funds for ES...[Read More]

'Stem cell ferry' gets round EU rules

02 May 2006 - by BioNews

Controversial stem cell therapy is to be provided in the UK on overnight ferries sailing in international water in order to bypass EU regulation. Advanced Cell Therapeutics (ACT), a Swiss company which offers treatment to sufferers of neurological disorders at twelve clinics around the world including some in Holland and...[Read More]

UK couple's bid to save stored embryos

02 May 2006 - by BioNews

A UK woman who underwent fertility treatment after having her womb removed is calling for a change in the law, to prevent frozen embryos belonging to herself and her husband from being destroyed next week. The couple, who have not managed to find a suitable surrogate mother to bear their...[Read More]