MA relaxes stem cell restrictions

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Massachusetts is getting ready to overturn regulations that restrict the use of stem cells for research, according to the linkurl:Associated Press.;http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/08/mass_health_panel_set_to_reverse_romney_backed_stem_cell_rules/ The regulations imposed by the 2005 bill created a muddy picture of which stem cells could be used for research. The language made collaborations with out of state researchers especially difficult. David Scadden, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, told the AP that the regulations essentially required researchers to trace the origin of any stem cell they used to make sure the cells weren't donated solely for research. Without that information, researchers were at risk of breaking the law. One of the proposed changes is to delete the line, "No person shall knowingly create embryos or preimplantation embryos by the method of fertilization with the sole intent of using the embryo for research, " from the regulations. When I reported on the Massachusetts Life Sciences initiative in July in a news linkurl:story;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/53359/ and follow-up linkurl:blog,;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/53388/ the Department of Health in Massachusetts was already planning to hold hearings on changing the language of the regulations. No word yet on when the regulation will change, but we'll let you know when we find out.

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