The Department of Biotechnology is promoting stem cell research in a focused manner. Its strategy includes establishment of infrastructure, capacity building, applied and basic research, setting up of centers of excellence, national and international programmes etc. To achieve the objectives various committees have been constituted and a number of projects have been implemented both for embryonic and adult stem cell.

The guidelines for stem cell research are being formulated jointly by Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Medical Research. Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Bio-technology have submitted the final guidelines to the Union Health Minister on November 8, 2007 to regulate stem cell research. The regulations stated that embryonic stem cell research can be executed, but the donor’s consent will be mandatory.

Research or therapy using fetal stem cells will be allowed but termination of pregnancy cannot be attempted for donating foetal tissue for any possible financial or therapeutic profit.

Two committees are being planned to regulate the area. A National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy and an Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy. They will analyses the scientific, technical, ethical, legal and social issues in embryonic stem cell research.

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All institutions and investigators carrying out research on human stem cells must be registered with these two institutions. At the same time, India’s first clinical research facility for stem cells and regenerative medicine have been opened in Hyderabad by the Center for cellular and molecular Biology along with Nizam’s Institute of Medical Science. According to the guidelines human stem cells can be obtained from various sources.

(i) Aborted foetal tissues.

(ii) Stored or spare embryos obtained- from inheritability treatment.

(iii) Embryos produced for research purposes

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(iv) Collected from peripheral blood or bone marrow.