[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1017]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 14, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Notice of Meetings of Panel
Notice is hereby given of the first meeting of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Human Embryo Research Panel, a panel of
special consultants to the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD),
NIH, established to recommend guidelines for Federal funding of human
embryo research. The Panel's first meeting will be held February 2-3,
1994, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 2nd, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on
the 3rd. The meeting will be held at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel, 5151
Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, Maryland. Dates of subsequent Panel meetings
will be determined at the first meeting.
Until June 1993, Federal regulations governing research on human
subjects (45 CFR part 46) required research involving in vitro
fertilization (IVF) to be reviewed by an Ethics Advisory Board (EAB).
Because of the absence of an EAB since 1980, Federal funding of IVF
protocols was not possible. With the enactment of the NIH
Revitalization Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-43), the regulatory provision
requiring EAB review of IVF proposals was nullified. As a result, IVF
proposals, as well as research involving human embryos that result from
IVF or other sources, may now be considered for Federal funding.
The NIH has received a number of applications for support in this
area and in the related field of parthenogenesis. However, before
proceeding with the consideration of specific human embryo research
proposals for funding, the NIH must address the profound moral and
ethical issues raised by the use of human embryos in research and
develop guidelines to govern the review and conduct of Federally-funded
research. Panel members will be asked to consider various areas of
research involving the human embryo and provide advice as to those
areas they view to be acceptable for Federal funding, areas that
warrant additional review, and areas that are unacceptable for Federal
support. For those areas of research considered acceptable for Federal
funding, the Panel will be asked to recommend specific guidelines for
the review and conduct of this research. Ethical issues related to
human germ-line gene modification are not within the Panel's purview.
The Panel's final report will be presented to the ACD for review.
The NIH invites public input into this process. Those who wish to
share their views about Federal funding of human embryo research may
address the Panel during public comment periods that will be scheduled
during each meeting. The public comment period during the first meeting
is scheduled to take place February 2 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those who
wish to address the Panel at this or subsequent meetings are asked to
contact Ms. Peggy Schnoor, by telephoning 301-496-1454 or by sending a
facsimile message to 301-402-0280 or 301-402-1759. Oral statements must
not exceed five minutes in length, and opportunities to present
statements will be determined by the order in which requests are
received. Those who wish to present oral statements should forward a
one-page summary of their remarks in advance of the scheduled
presentation date. Individuals and organizations may also submit
written comments of any length to the Panel. These should be forwarded
to the NIH in care of Ms. Schnoor at 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 1,
room 218, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
The NIH will endeavor to provide seating for all members of the
public who wish to attend the meetings. Individuals are, however, asked
to notify the NIH of their interest in attending by using the telephone
or facsimile numbers listed above. Individuals who require special
accommodations are also asked to contact Ms. Schnoor at the above
number. General questions about the Panel or the first meeting should
also be directed to Ms. Schnoor.
Future meetings of the Panel will be announced in this publication.
Dated: January 10, 1994.
Harold Varmus,
Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 94-1017 Filed 1-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M
