Laws and Policies Links to policies related to embryonic stem (ES) cell research in the US and worldwide as well as published guidelines for human ES cell research.

Massachusetts

Public Health Council Overturns Restrictive Stem Cell Regulations  October, 2007.  The Massachusetts Public Health Council amended the 2005 regulations to ease restrictions on human stem cell research.

Enhancing Regenerative Medicine in the Commonwealth. This law, passed in 2005, placed limitations on human ES cell research in Massachusetts.

Legislation by State

State Embryonic and Fetal Research Laws   State-by-state listing of legislation related to stem cell research by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

U.S. Legislation

Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells. Executive order that lifts barriers to human ES cell research put in place by the Bush administartion in 2001. (March 9, 2009)

Fact Sheet: Embryonic Stem Cell Research  White House policy on human ES cell research (August 2001)

U.S. Federal Stem Cell Legislation  Sourcewatch article on stem cell legislation efforts of the 110^th Congress (2007-2008)

Congressional Legislation  NIH links to U.S. House and Senate bills related to stem cell research for the past four years.

International hESC Policies

World Human ES Cell Policies.  This is an interactive map that provides information on human ES cell policies throughout the world.  Colored maps indicate if countries or states have permissive legislation, place restrictions on or prohibit human ES cell research.  The site also contains excerpts from countries with written policy statements.  The site was created by the Hinxton Group, an international consortium of human ES cell researchers, ethicists and policy experts.

Guidelines for Human ES Cell Research

2005 National Academy of Sciences Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research  A comprehensive description of the current ethical standards and guidelines for the derivation and use of human ES cells in the United States. Available for purchase, free download or read online (225 pages).

2007 Amendments to the NAS Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research  This amendment contains updated information from the NAS Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee.

2008 Amendments to the NAS Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research  Among the issues addressed in these amendments are the applicability of the guidelines to non-embryonic pluripotent stem cells.

ISSCR Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research.  Developed by the International Society for Stem Cell Research, these principles were written by scientific, ethical and legal experts from 14 countries in order to foster international collaborations.