Brussels, 12/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Debate is continuing at European Union institutions on the proper role for human embryonic stem cell research under both the 7th Framework Programme for Research and the regulation on centralised authorisation of the marketing of innovative therapy, and EURORDIS (an organisation of 264 patients' and patients' parents' groups from 21 countries, including 19 EU Member States, representing some 30 million sufferers of rare diseases in the EU) is clearly moving in the direction of favouring embryonic stem cell research. In a very detailed report that even goes as far as explaining the different views taken by leaders of the Catholic and Protestant churches, Judaism and Islam, EURORDIS clearly chooses to defend the interest of patients whle recognising the importance of an ethical framework for research. EURORDIS says that it would be unethical to deprive patients of treatments which migh t cure them At the same time, its members have various religious faiths and philosophies and recognise everyone's right to choose whether or not to have a treatment developped from human stem cell research.
In its conclusions, EURORDIS says that the protection of surplus embryos destined for destruction should be examined while being aware of the potential treatment that could be provided to EU citizens who would otherwise have to suffer a long, painful death. To save the life of millions of patients with rare or common diseases, EURORDIS backs research into embryonic stem cells, while respecting a rigorous framework. EURORDIS does not back the banning of EU funding for human stem cell research or the exclusion of stem cell therapy from the scope of the future regulation on innovative therapies. While supporting the idea of research on human embryonic stem cells, EURORDIS notes the importance of research on adult stem cells and cells from the umbelical cord. (EURORDIS' views can be consulted on http://www.eurordis.org ).