International Initiatives
In addition to international scientific collaborations such as
International Stem Cell Initiative and hESCReg projects, the Bank
is involved in promoting ethical and regulatory activities to aid
the international transfer and use of human stem cell lines.
In 2007 the International Stem Cell Forum funded a proposal from
the UK Stem Cell Bank to bring together the various centres
developing human stem cell banks. In 2008 the International
Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISCBI) was inaugurated. Its purpose
is to help develop a global network of stem cell banks through
support for existing banks and by encouraging the development of
new banks in member countries. It will aid stem cell banks to
share knowledge about ethical and regulatory issues in member
countries and assist in the development of an agreed set of
consensus international minimum standards for banking,
characterisation and testing, thereby creating a solid framework
for international stem cell banking and research.
Concentrating initially on the producing guidance for “Research
or Laboratory Grade” stem cell lines, workshops were held in
Beijing, China and Bar Harbor, USA in 2008. Places at these
workshops are restricted to two representatives per ISCF member
country (one banking and one regulatory representative) and a small
number of invited guests with special expertise. To ensure
broad international input a number of non-ISCF countries also
attended. Delegates came from more than 17 countries and
there has been broad representation from Asia, North America and
Europe.
The first published output from the ISCBI has been a guidance
document on the principles of best practice for the supply of hESC
lines for research purposes which has been published in Stem Cell
Reviews and Reports (Consensus
guidance for banking and supply of human embryonic stem cell lines
for research purposes. Stem Cell Rev., 5, 301-314.(2009)).
Currently, consensus guidance is being prepared for Clinical
Grade stem cell lines and theis too will be published.
For more information on International Stem Cell Banking
Initiative go to their website
here.