Brazil court to rule on stem cells
(sz) Brazil’s Supreme Court is set to decide if scientists in Latin America’s largest country can conduct embryonic stem cell research, which many say can lead to cures for degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The court’s 11 justices are scheduled to rule Wednesday on a 2005 petition by then-Attorney General Claudio Fontelles, who argued that a new law allowing embryonic stem cell research was unconstitutional because it violates the right to life.
The law opened the way for research with embryos resulting from in-vitro fertilization that are frozen for at least three years.
“Brazil has the potential to be a significant leader in this field,” said Bernard Siegel, the executive director of the Florida-based Genetic Policy Institute. “And if the Supreme Court decides to allow this kind of research, then Brazil will become the Latin American leader in this field.”
He said Brazilian scientists have done “pathfinding” work with adult stem cells for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and Type 1 diabetes. If given the green light to use embryonic stem cells, “then there is no reason why they won’t be able to make important breakthroughs,” he added. more…
From: »CTV« (Canada)