Significant aspects of genomics research in Italy will be controlled by a three-member panel of experts nominated by parliament, if a private member's bill is successful.

The bill was approved last week by the culture and education committee of the Italian Senate, but still has some hurdles to clear before becoming law.

The panel would have a seven-year mandate. Based on advice from expert committees, it would make final decisions about what type of basic and applied research could be done, taking into account both bioethical and safety issues, and with responsibility for ensuring ‘a balance of ethical positions’ within the research community.

The panel, whose creation was initially proposed by senator Valentino Martelli, would not distribute research money, but would have the power to block funds distributed by other agencies for research it considered unsuitable. Ultimately, it would have the power to close laboratories conducting research outside its guidelines.

The move has wide support across different political parties. But many scientists see it as a clumsy response to ethical concerns about human genome research, claiming that it is ill-thought-out and makes no reference to existing national bioethical and scientific advisory committees. Research minister Ortensio Zecchino has also expressed reservations, but a private member's bill does not require government support to be debated.

Although the bill is fast-tracked and has considerable cross-party support, it may not be approved in the current government's legislative period, not least because of its high proposed running costs of IL40 billion (US$19.6 billion).

Its lack of reference to existing structures highlights the poor coordination of genomics research in Italy, which was among the first countries after the United States to institute a genomics-research programme. The programme, an initiative of the Italian national research council (CNR), was led by Nobel laureate Renato Dulbecco. It was launched with only IL2 billion, and funding stopped in 1996 when the CNR came under political pressure to reform.

The CNR is now launching a new genomics-research programme intended to prepare the ground for a more extensive initiative. Its IL1.9 billion budget is less than one-twentieth the annual running costs proposed for the planned controlling panel.

Zecchino responded to last week's announcement of the human genome draft sequence by pledging to create a high-level school for molecular medicine, with sites in Milan and Naples. But he gave no details.