Symposium Marks the Launch of the European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry

Berlin, Germany (Jan. 18-19)-Last month, the European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry (hESCreg) became operational. The organization hosted the 1st European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry Symposium to coincide with the launch of the program.

The registry is funded by the European Commision as part of its Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. The goal of the project is create a database of all human embryonic stem-cell lines in Europe, and their characteristics, and provide that information to researchers, government agencies, and the general public via a publicly accessible website to foster cooperation and coordination of research efforts.

The project is a collaboration between three European hospitals: the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies located at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, the UK Stem Cell Bank at the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control and the Barcelona Stem Cell Bank at the Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona.

The two-day symposium, titled “State-of-the-Art in hESC Research, European hESC Policy and International Harmonization” featured several sessions and lectures. Symposium materials are available for download on the group’s website, where a full list of presentations can also be found. The event featured presentations on various topics, including: details of the European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry, explorations of stem-cell research and regulation in countries worldwide, applications of stem cell research, ethical issues, and more.