The Stem Cell Oversight Committee

Background

In the fall of 2000, CIHR convened an ad hoc working group on stem cell research to respond to the significant scientific opportunities and ethical issues raised by human pluripotent stem cell research. The working group, which included internationally renowned experts in stem cell research, ethics, law and medicine, was mandated to assist CIHR in setting policies for funding future research involving human pluripotent stem cells and to consider how CIHR might contribute to the development of a coordinated national policy in this area.

As part of its work, the working group carried out widespread consultations and, in January 2002, its report to CIHR’s Governing Council was unanimously accepted. The report formed the basis of stem cell research guidelines that were publicly announced in March 2002. CIHR, together with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), collectively called "the Agencies", have agreed to adopt a common approach to implementing the Guidelines.

The Stem Cell Oversight Committee

The Guidelines called for the establishment of a Stem Cell Oversight Committee (SCOC). SCOC’s primary role is to review research funding applications dealing with human pluripotent stem cells for conformity to the Guidelines. Research applications subject to SCOC’s review will include: applications within the scope of the Guidelines that are submitted to the Agencies; applications submitted to other funding organizations but conducted under the auspices of institutions receiving funding from the Agencies; and possibly, with mutual agreement, applications submitted to other funders for research to be performed in other settings. SCOC will advise CIHR's Governing Council with respect to the outcomes of these reviews. SCOC review is not intended to substitute the review undertaken by the local Research Ethics Board (REB) at the investigator’s research institution. Only proposals that are deemed excellent by peer-review and approved by SCOC and the local will receive federal funding.

SCOC comprises a diverse group of individuals with a range of backgrounds and disciplines relevant to the mandate of the Committee. Experts will provide the Committee access to the latest scientific, legal and ethical information, while representatives from the general public will represent the views and values of Canadians potentially affected by the new technologies.

SCOC is a committee of CIHR’s Governing Council and reports to the Governing Council, normally through the Executive Committee of Governing Council.