In order to fill a void in federal regulations for human embryonic stem cell research, the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) formulated a set of recommended guidelines for the responsible conduct of human embryonic stem cell research. The formation of institutional stem cell research oversight committees (ESCROs) is one of these guidelines.
The University of Connecticut established an ESCRO Committee in 2006. Its name was changed to the Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (SCRO) in December 2009 to reflect the expansion of its mandate to other types of pluripotent stem cells.
The role of the University of Connecticut’s Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (UC-SCRO) is to ensure that pluripotent stem cell research is well-justified and that inappropriate and unethical research is not conducted. Its mandate is to provide oversight of all ethical issues related to the derivation and research use of human stem cell lines at all schools, colleges, campuses, and research arms of the University of Connecticut regardless of the source of funding, and to review all proposals submitted by University investigators for funds from the Connecticut Stem Cell Research Grant Project. Review by the UC-SCRO Committee supplements but does not replace the usual reviews for compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g. reviews by animal care committees, Institutional Review Boards, Biological Safety Committees, etc.)
From a legal perspective the review and approval of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research by an SCRO committee or its equivalent is required by the State of Connecticut. From an institutional perspective SCRO review and approval of hESC research and some types of other pluripotent stem cell research is required by institutional policy as well as the State of Connecticut law. SCRO oversight facilitates the collaboration between researchers across institutions by adopting what are becoming nationally and internationally accepted standards and protects the reputation of the University of Connecticut for its conduct of ethical and responsible research.
At a deeper level SCROs exist to protect both the public interest and the progress of biomedical stem cell research. The ethical mandate of the SCRO is to ensure that appropriate respect is given to the value of human life and to different points of view about the basis of this value. It does so in part by evaluating risks to the value of human life and dignity against possible benefits to human health and well-being. By striving to ensure that only well-justified stem cell research is approved and that inappropriate research is not conducted, SCROs promote public confidence and trust that stem cell research will be directed towards the improving human well-being and is worthy of public support.
Research within the scope of UC-SCRO review may not be conducted without prior written approval of the Committee. Failure to comply with oversight policies of the UC-SCRO may result in disciplinary action in accordance with University policies.