Memorandum 10
Submission from the Multiple Sclerosis
Society and the Alzheimer's Society
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alzheimer's
Society would like to express their concerns that the use of hybrid
and chimera embryos may not be licensed following a consultation
focusing on reproductive technologies rather than the research
of such embryos.
We consider that the use of such leading-edge
techniques must be allowed to further develop potential treatments
for neurological conditions. We hope that the government will
not inhibit research into this complex but promising new arena
in research.
Stem cell research, including embryonic stem
cell research, shows great promise for advances in the treatment
of serious diseases. It holds the key to exciting possibilities
for treating the damage caused in severely disabling conditions
like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease
and Alzheimer's disease. These diseases have a devastating impact
on more than a million families throughout the UK—families
to whom stem cell research could offer vital hope.
Millions of pounds are invested in stem cell
projects across the UK and it is vital that scientists are allowed
to continue exploring the potential of stem cells as a basis for
innovative new therapies. The chimera hold great potential as
laboratory tools to explore early processes that lead to neurological
conditions because they may be constructed to express the human
genes that cause some of these diseases. We acknowledge that work
must take place within a proper regulatory and ethical framework,
but we are concerned that a decision may be taken to close down
a route of investigation without full consideration of its impacts.
For this reason, we are very pleased that a
fuller discussion with the scientific community and patient groups
likely to be affected is taking place. We sincerely hope that
negative public perception and unease surrounding the subject
will not prohibit the potential benefits that could accrue from
further laboratory research in this area.
January 2007
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