Academic Journal
Morally relevant features warranting ethical oversight in human stem cell-based embryo models.
| Τίτλος: | Morally relevant features warranting ethical oversight in human stem cell-based embryo models. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Moris N; The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. naomi.moris@crick.ac.uk., Martinez Arias A; Systems Bioengineering, DCEXS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain., Pera M; The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA., Rivron N; Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria., Sermon K; Research Group Genetics, Reproduction and Development (GRAD), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium., de Graeff N; Department of Medical Ethics and Health Law, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.; Leiden Node, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden, The Netherlands. |
| Πηγή: | Nature cell biology [Nat Cell Biol] 2026 Apr; Vol. 28 (4), pp. 659-664. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 08. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Macmillan Magazines Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100890575 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1476-4679 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14657392 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Nat Cell Biol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: London : Macmillan Magazines Ltd., [1999- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Embryo Research*/ethics , Embryo Research*/legislation & jurisprudence , Stem Cell Research*/ethics , Morals* , Models, Biological* , Human Embryonic Stem Cells*, Humans ; Animals |
| Περίληψη: | Stem cell-based embryo models provide innovative ways to explore the principles of human development but also pose new challenges for regulation. Recent guidelines have argued for case-by-case evaluation of stem cell-based embryo model research but it is still unclear what exactly such oversight should consider. Here we argue that effective review requires the identification of a set of attributes by which to evaluate research proposals. To define these, the underlying ethical values and morally relevant biological features present in embryo models must be identified to enable the practical implementation of oversight. We propose that developmental stage, tissue/organ integrity, fetal potential and the capacity to form neural circuits should be used together for evaluation purposes. We also highlight the importance of the wider context, including the proposed uses of embryo models, public perception and individual researcher responsibilities, and thus provide a general framework for regulatory consideration of human embryo model research. (© 2026. Springer Nature Limited.) |
| Competing Interests: | Competing interests: N.M. and A.M.A. are inventors on patent numbers PCT/GB2019/052670 and PCT/GB2019/052668 owned by Cambridge Enterprise. N.C.R. is an inventor on the patents ‘Blastoid, cell line based artificial blastocyst’ (EP2986711) and ‘Blastocyst-like cell aggregate and methods’ (EP21151455.9), which are both licensed to dawn-bio. All other authors declare no competing interests. |
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| Grant Information: | CC2186 United Kingdom WT_ Wellcome Trust; EP/Y009967/1 RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); NC/C023102/01 National Centre for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs); BB/Y00311X/1 RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); 10250022120002 ZonMw (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development); NNF21CC0073729 Novo Nordisk Fonden (Novo Nordisk Foundation); MiniEmbryoBllueprint_834580 EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council); 101002317 EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council); HU-BLAST 56200 Austrian Science Fund (Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260408 Date Completed: 20260714 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260813 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC7619075 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41556-026-01881-4 |
| PMID: | 41951754 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1476-4679 |
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| DOI: | 10.1038/s41556-026-01881-4 |