Majority want publicly-funded stem cell research

EU survey: Approximately four out of five people with neurological diseases and their families believe public funding should be used for human embryonic stem cell research, according to an international survey.

The survey, which was carried out in 21 EU countries, found that 84 per cent of these Irish patients would not refuse a personal treatment derived from human embryonic stem cell transplantation.

These figures suggest a high acceptance of what has often been a highly contentious and complex area of scientific research.

Stem cells are a particular type of cell which can, technically speaking, become any other type of cell in the body.

There are two broad categories of stem cells: adult stem cells which can be taken from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and some other tissues and organs; and embryonic stem cells which are taken from embryos.

The fact that the removal of stem cells from embryos results in their destruction has been the principle area of controversy.

The survey was carried out by the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) in advance of a European Parliament vote on Thursday about the funding of stem cell research.

"We wanted to ensure that the voice of patients and their families who are the European citizens most affected by this research, is heard by decision- makers," said the president of the EFNA, Mary Baker.

The vote on Thursday will kick-start wider debate on stem cell research within the European Commission and the European Council of Ministers.

The support for public funding for stem cell research was echoed in a poll carried out by the Irish Council for Bioethics last year.

In that survey, more than half of the respondents said the Irish Government should fund embryonic stem cell research, even though this research resulted in the destruction of the embryo.

Some 54 per cent of those surveyed also said they would use new treatments for disease developed using embryonic stem cell research.

Embryonic stem cells were first discovered in 1998 and since then research has focused on how such cells can be coaxed into becoming heart, liver, bone or nerve cells.

As yet, there are no therapies derived from embryonic stem cell research although adult stem cells are used in the treatment of certain diseases including some childhood cancers.