Institutes submit papers for stem cell conference

More than 250 participants, including key ethicists and scientists, will present their views on stem cell research and its ethics at the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy due to take place in Doha this month.
More than 45 national, regional and international institutes have already submitted over 70 abstracts for the conference.
The abstracts examine the various challenges and opportunities that stem cell research presents, and include themes such as the therapeutic potential of stem cell research, the challenges presented by stem cell research in the context of the GCC region, the commercial applications of stem cell research, and one of the most important topics in the dialogue surrounding stem cell research – the ethics and its ramifications for stem cell guidelines and policies.
“This is a unique opportunity for Qatar Foundation to continue the open dialogue it has established through its partnership with James A Baker III Institute and the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies on ethics in stem cell research,” said Faisal Mohammed al-Suwaidi, president, research and development, at Qatar Foundation.
The conference is the culmination of a series of initiatives developed through this tripartite partnership to develop best ethical practice in stem cell research in Qatar and across the region, including workshops with religious scholars in 2009 and a public forum in May 2010.
“We want to raise awareness about Qatar’s developments in stem cell research; however, we also want to explore the ethical policy ramifications that come along with these developments. The conference will invite scientists, ethicists and policy makers across Qatar, the region and the world to address the issues surrounding stem cell research and develop policy recommendations that account for ethical, religious and cultural factors,” said Khaled al-Subai, director, research co-ordination and compliance, Qatar Foundation.

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Institutes submit papers for stem cell conference