Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committees
The National Academies called for the establishment of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO) Committees in its 2005 "Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research" to manage the ethical and legal concerns in human embryonic stem cell research. Because of the complexity and novelty of many of the issues involved in that research, the Guidelines committee believes that all research institutions engaged in human embryonic stem cell research should create and maintain these committees at the local level.
Human embryonic stem cells clinical trials
The FDA approved a phase I clinical trial with ViaCyte beta cells derived from human embryonic stem cell for the treatment of diabetes in August 2014. The cells will be delivered in immunoprotective capsules and pre-clinical results in animal models showed remission of symptoms within a few months. The company reported the successful transplantation of the cells in the first of the 40 patients that will be treated under the trial in late October 2014.