The government is to provide a financial ‘shot in the arm’ for UK stem cell research, in response to recommendations laid out in a report from the UK Stem Cell Initiative (UKSCI). But some doubt it’s chosen the right arm.

Established in 2005, UKSCI is a government advisory body charged with establishing a 10-year vision for UK stem cell research. Its report identified five major themes whose development will increase momentum in national stem cell research: a public-private consortium for the advancement of stem cell technology, to include biotechnology, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies; more infrastructure for the development of stem cell therapy (including shoring up the UK Stem Cell Bank for the next decade); consolidation of research funding dedicated to stem cell work; a favourable regulatory climate; and improved communication and coordination between government, research councils and researchers.

UKSCI estimated this will cost £11m to £74m per year, in addition to existing investments. The government has agreed to the recommendations in their entirety, welcoming them as a ‘“road map” to translate basic research in stem cells into new therapies to benefit patients,’ and promising an additional investment of £50m over the next two years, in addition to the £50m already allocated.

According to Chancellor Gordon Brown, the investment will help Britain to become ‘the world's number one centre for genetic and stem cell research building on our world leading regulatory regime in this area.’ He promised a ‘new public-private partnership to invest in pre-commercial aspects of stem cell research and to coordinate future research.’

While this is good news for stem cell researchers, not everyone is impressed. Josephine Quintavalle of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics explained: ‘The worry is that the government is more concerned about being the global leader in stem cell research than in serious analysis of stem cell claims.  The Hwang cloning scandal [in which South Korean Dr Hwang Woo-suk was charged with having faked the production of a stem cell line taken from a cloned human embryo] should be a salutary lesson.’

The group’s concern is not with the management or independence of the research but with how funds are distributed between the different aspects of the scientific field itself.  ‘[A] big weakness in the [government’s] position is their unjustifiable enthusiasm for embryonic stem cell and cloning research,’ continued Quintavalle, ‘and their lack of interest in the much more successful cord blood, bone marrow and other adult stem cell therapies.’

Comment on Reproductive Ethics is also sceptical about the ability of the HFEA to regulate embryonic stem cell research effectively. ‘Flexible?  They certainly are – or perhaps intimidated. I do not think the HFEA would ever dare say “No,” ’ remarked Quintavalle.

The government response to the UKSCI report can be viewed here.