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Access to human embryonic stem cell lines

Nature Biotechnology volume 29, pages 1079–1081 (2011)Cite this article

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To the Editor:

The promise of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) science for basic research, drug discovery and cell-based therapies depends on a wide range of scientists acquiring existing hESC lines or deriving their own lines—in short, gaining access to the field's key research tool. Historically, norms of scientific behavior have supported sharing of research materials, yet concerns have emerged that this behavior is in decline. Among the factors potentially complicating access to hESC lines is an intellectual property environment that features both broad patents on hESCs assigned to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF; Madison, WI, USA) and numerous narrower patents claiming specific hESC-related techniques1. Access is also complicated by the ethical controversy associated with hESC science, the field's political salience and its commercial potential. Responding to this environment, the interdisciplinary Hinxton Group (Baltimore) has called for new information and data sharing hubs to facilitate stem cell research, echoing concerns voiced since hESCs were first derived2.

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Figure 1: Number of hESC lines used by individual stem cell scientists.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges financial support provided by the Roadmap for an Entrepreneurial Economy Program, supported by the Georgia Research Alliance and the Kauffman Foundation, as well as support from Georgia Tech. The author also acknowledges research assistance from R. Karmali, pre-testing assistance from T. McDevitt's group, and helpful comments on a draft of this article from J. Walsh, all at Georgia Tech.

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  1. School of Public Policy & Institute of Bioengineering & Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Aaron D Levine

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  1. Aaron D Levine
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Correspondence to Aaron D Levine.

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Levine, A. Access to human embryonic stem cell lines. Nat Biotechnol 29, 1079–1081 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2029

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