Bush stem-cell lines have brighter future

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved the first human embryonic stem (ES) cell line from the George W Bush era, according to Nature News. It will be included on the National Stem Cell Registry (NSCR), ensuring its eligibility for federal funding....[Read More]

deCODE is back

The pioneering genetics research company, deCODE, reemerged last week as a private company with new financial backing. Based in Reykjavik, Iceland, the original company deCODE Genetics, Inc led the way internationally in genetic testing and diagnostics for over a decade. With unique access to genetic information from Iceland's isolated population, the biotech firm has made important discoveries, such as identifying gene variants associated with common conditions ...[Read More]

Red tape hampers US embryonic stem-cell research funding

The scientific research community in the US has had much cause to celebrate this past year following President Obama taking office and swiftly implementing a decidedly more liberal policy towards human embryonic stem (ES) cell research than was hitherto in place. Earlier this month the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved 13 new ES cell lines under the new ethical standards. However, the granting of federal funding for research projects on ES cell lines - a key policy c...[Read More]

US approves first new stem cell lines

Regulators in the US have approved 13 new human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines - the first to be approved since President Obama lifted the restriction on stem cell research earlier this year in March. The 13 stem cell lines are the first the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has approved under the ethical guidelines that were unveiled in July; they are also the first new stem cells lines available to US scientists in almost a decade. It is hoped that the new lines, which are of

Clinic offers repeat IVF cycle in exchange for lifestyle improvements

A central London fertility clinic is offering an IVF treatment package in return for patients signing up to a health and lifestyle improvement programme, which will require patients to stop smoking, drinking, and lose weight if necessary prior to commencing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment....[Read More]

Couple's frozen embryos may be destroyed under new law

A couple from County Derry in Northern Ireland have taken legal action to halt the destruction of their embryos, currently being stored at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, Belfast....[Read More]

Bid to block new US stem cell guidelines rejected by judge

A District Court Judge in the US has dismissed a lawsuit brought by an embryo adoption agency, Nightlight Christian Adoptions ('Nightlight'), and the Christian Medical Association ('CMA'). The lawsuit sought to prevent the implementation of the Obama Administration's new National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines on federal funding for embryonic stem (ES) cell research....[Read More]

Intending mothers fight for maternity leave following surrogacy

Following new UK government guidelines on surrogacy published last month aimed at improving the rights of surrogacy patients, Ministers are now facing a new legal challenge calling for further changes in the law....[Read More]

Lawsuit against US clinic reignites sperm donor debate

A 35-year old single mother, identified as Jane Doe, has sued the New England Cryogenic Center (NECC) in order to learn the paternity of her ill eight year old twins who were conceived with anonymously donated sperm from the NECC...[Read More]

Australia reports drop in multiple births as more women opt for single embryo transfer

A report published on 24 September 2009 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare ('the Institute') has indicated that although an increasing number of women are turning to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to assist with pregnancy, the number of multiple births is decreasing....[Read More]