The bioethics committee of Japan's Science and Technology Council (Tokyo) has approved research involving the use of embryonic stem cells, citing its potential applications in the development of therapeutics for such diseases as leukemia and Parkinson's disease. The decision and the speed at which it was reached reflect the impending launch of a national research institute for regeneration medicine later this year. The new institute, which will carry out research on the development, differentiation, and regeneration of cells and tissue, is one of Japan's key life science projects for fiscal year 2000. Like other leading-edge biological projects—such as the new institutes for single nucleotide polymorphisms and plant genome research, also scheduled to be launched this year (Nat. Biotechnol., 17, 744–745)—it will be overseen by the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Saitama Prefecture). The bioethics committee plans to draw up new guidelines for embryonic stem cell research by the end of March, including regulations to protect the privacy of donors of fertilized eggs (from which stem cells are created). According to the committee's preliminary report, fertilized eggs would be obtained only from donors who have received infertility treatment.