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Science 22 March 2002:
Vol. 295. no. 5563, p. 2191
DOI: 10.1126/science.295.5563.2191b
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ScienceScope

Australia's state and federal governments are preparing to square off over human embryonic stem cell research. On 6 April, the nation's prime minister and the heads of its eight states and territories intend to discuss the regulation of stem cell research, with at least one state premier vowing to resist any national ban.

In late February, Australian scientists were surprised by press reports that federal Cabinet members had agreed in principle to ignore recommendations from a parliamentary panel and outlaw the derivation of new stem cell lines from spare embryos left at fertility clinics (Science, 1 March, p. 1619). But Bob Carr, the premier of New South Wales, promises that his state will set up its own stem cell derivation center if that happens.

Researchers hope the federal government will back down. Cell biologist Martin Pera of Monash University in Melbourne says that stem cell scientists have had "very positive" meetings with senior government officials, including Prime Minister John Howard. Although the lobbying effort has cut significantly into research time, Pera says the tradeoff is necessary: "If we don't get this right, we won't be able to do the research at all."

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)