New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended establishing a national apex committee to monitor and oversee the activities related to stem cell research and therapy, particularly embryonic stem cell research, as it involved ethical and social issues.

The ICMR has also suggested an Institutional Committee for stem cell research and therapy for monitoring research areas involving adult, umbilical cord blood and fetal stem cell research at the institutional level after obtaining the approval of the Ethics Committee.

In cosultation with the Department of Biotechnology, the ICMR has revised the guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Regulation known as the Draft Guidelines for stem cell research and therapy, 2006 under which these recommendations have been made.

The government had asked the ICMR to frame guidelines following the reports of many private institutions carrying out unregulated stem cell research and trial in the country which could pose grave threat to the health of patients and also have ethical implications.

The stem cell research was a promising area of biotechnology for ''Regenerative Medicine'' providing tools to repair and replace tissues and cells damaged by injuries or diseases like heart disease, stroke, spinal injuries, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, retinal degeneration and muscular dystrophy etc.

Presently more than 20 government and private institutions are working in different areas of stem cell research like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi; PGI, Chandigarh; Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore; National Institute of Immunology, Delhi; NIRRH, Mumbai; CLRD, Hyderabad and KEM, Mumbai.

UNI