Social impact of integration of advanced stem cell technology and existing medicine

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460586
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Ishii Tetsuya 北海道大学, 安全衛生本部, 教授 (40722145)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Nojima Kumie 放射線医学総合研究所, 分子イメージング研究センター・RI・画像診断関連実験施設管理運営室, 室長 (90218272) ; Yoshida Akira 生理学研究所, 多次元共同脳科学推進センター, 特任教授 (70257187)
• Research Collaborator: Renee Reijo Pera スタンフォード大学, 医学部, 教授 ; Greely Henry スタンフォード大学, 法学部, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 幹細胞研究 / 生殖医療 / 遺伝子改変 / 倫理 / 規制

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to assess the development of advanced stem cell technologies that can produce human germ cells and neural cells, then considered whether their application is justifiable, while assessing ethical, legal, and social issues. Regarding stem cell technology to produce germ cells, it was concluded that its reproductive use for restoring fertility in cancer survivors may be justifiable, despite remaining ethical and regulatory issues. Concerning stem cell technology for generating neural cells, it was too early for in-depth consideration on the justification yet. During this research, the investigators recognized the emerging issues surrounding genome editing in medical research, which had been also integrated into stem cell research, and published bioethics articles and talked at the US National Academies of Sciences. In addition, the principle investigator joined a special committee of Science Council of Japan, and contributed to the publication of a recommendation.

Free Research Field

生命倫理学