Research guidelines for embryoids

Abstract

Human embryo models formed from stem cells—known as embryoids—allow scientists to study the elusive first stages of human development without having to experiment on actual human embryos. But clear ethical guidelines for research involving embryoids are still lacking. Previously, a handful of researchers put forward new recommendations for embryoids, which they hope will be included in the next set of International Society for Stem Cell Research guidelines. Although these recommendations are an improvement over the default approach, they are nonetheless unworkable, because they rely on a poorly conceived notion of an embryoid’s ‘potential’ to trigger stringent research regulations.

Ethical, legal, regulatory, and policy issues concerning embryoids: a systematic review of the literature

“…Hum Reprod Update. 2020 Nov 1;26(6):779–98 [ 64 ] Piotrowska M. Research guidelines for embryoids. J Med Ethics.…”

“… [ 18 , 52 , 53 ] Limit-setting may not be possible [ 49 ] Resolving questions regarding embryoids’ moral status may not resolve questions regarding permissible use [ 41 , 55 , 62 ] Are researcher intentions relevant to assessing permissibility of research? [ 21 , 35 , 37 , 41 , 48 , 57 , 61 ] Embryoid research could involve commercialization of human tissue [ 40 ] Regulatory and policy considerations Questions regarding how embryoids fit within existing research guidelines, policies, and frameworks [ 9 , 18 , 21 , 23 , 27 , 28 , 33 , 34 , 41 , 44 , 50 – 52 , 55 , 57 , 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 67 , 70 – 72 ] Embryoids do not follow canonical embryogenesis [ 9 , 18 , 27 , 31 , 34 , …”

“… [ 21 , 27 , 42 , 52 , 55 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 66 ] Are public consultation, engagement, or deliberation necessary for developing guidelines? [ 18 , 21 , 27 , 36 , 39 , 42 , 45 , 46 , 53 , 60 , 70 ] International collaboration is important for developing guidelines [ 53 ] Ethical framework for embryoid research should be developed before regulatory framework [ 18 , 22 , 39 , 47 , 54 , 67 ] Informed consent should be addressed in new guidelines [ 43 , 51 , 64 , 73 ] Privacy should be addressed in new guidelines [ 61 , 73 ] Benefit sharing should be addressed in new guidelines [ 73 ] New regulations, guidelines, or policies should be flexible to adapt to evolving science [ 21 , 23 , 39 , 41 , 56 , 59 , 60 …”

新興人體胚胎研究技術、 十四天規則和胚胎的特殊地位

“…Nevertheless, many believe that an evaluation of the moral status of embryoids will be necessary as these entities become more sophisticated and better approximate true embryos (Aach 2017;Hengstschläger and Rosner 2021;Denker 2021). Relevant neurological features such as the ability to feel pain or development of brain activity, constitute distinguishing markers that could confer greater moral status on an embryoid (Aach et al 2017;Denker 2021;Pereira Daoud et al 2020;Piotrowska 2021). However, the choice of which features are relevant to moral status is controversial in itself and involves disputed moral or ethical claims.…”

Autonomy in the Development of Stem Cell-Derived Embryoids: Sprouting Blastocyst-Like Cysts, and Ethical Implications

“…Would this very act of "engineering" have any bearings on the dignity we have to ascribe to the emerging entities? Although this view is defended by some authors, it is refuted by others who argue that the functionality (possible viability) of the construct should be seen as the major point of concern [54,55]. When arguing in terms of Aristotelian philosophy, embryo-engineering approaches may remind us, with regard to aspects of potentiality, more of passive than of active potentiality of the entities in question.…”