Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 12 November (WA 207–8), why Medical Research Council (MRC) funding was not awarded to undertake research involving admixed embryos in accordance with the remarks by Lord Darzi of Denham on 29 October 2008 (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 1615); why MRC funding was instead provided for somatic cell nuclear transfer where "scarce human eggs would be used over animal eggs"; and whether the MRC agrees with Professor Shaw's testimony regarding use of animal eggs that there "is no biological reason why it should not work" (HC 272–II, Session 2008–09, Q49).
Answer
The Medical Research Council (MRC) approach to funding research on stem cells follows from the council's objective of improving human health through excellent science and is committed to supporting research across a range of approaches to harness the potential of stem cells to treat human disease. It is not evident at present which area of stem cell research may deliver the most effective treatments for particular conditions and more research is needed on all types of stem cells to determine which routes should be pursued in the development of cell-based therapies. The MRC considers excellence as the primary consideration in taking decisions on which proposals to fund and all research proposals submitted to the MRC are subject to stringent scientific peer review. The process is rigorous and highly competitive and only proposals which are of an internationally competitive standard can be funded. This is the basis on which MRC takes individual funding decisions, including those using different stem cell types derived from human or animal tissue.