Irish Stem Cell Foundation seeks to provide better legislation for stem cell research in Ireland – VIDEO

Published Monday, February 4, 2013, 8:08 AM

Updated Monday, February 4, 2013, 8:08 AM

As part of austerity measures, Ireland chose to abolish - or absorb into another position - the role of the chief science adviser

Photo by Andrei Tchernov

Austerity certainly had an impact on Ireland, and the sciences werent spared from the influence. As part of austerity measures, Ireland chose to abolish - or absorb into another position - the role of the chief science adviser, a position that had been around since 2005, in late 2012.

According to Nature.com, the CSA helped to persuade the government to spare science, and urged it not to neglect longer-term investments in research capacity, in the wake of the 2008 Irish financial crisis.

Since the abolishment of the role, many scientists and researchers in Ireland worry that their work may suffer as a result. One foundation, the Irish Stem Cell Foundation, is particularly against the move to abolish the role of the CSA.

The Irish Stem Cell Foundation is an independent, non-profit medical research charity. Established in October 2009, it is composed of researchers, clinicians, patients advocates, patients, science communicators, bioethicists, lawyers, teachers, and students.

Stem cells are of particular interest to doctors and researchers for their unique ability to regenerate themselves or produce specialized cell types. Thus, they hold a lot of potential in order to create medical treatments that replace lost or damaged cells.

Stephen Sullivan, the Chief Scientific Officer at the ISCF said, The worst consequence of this decision would be that, if, in addition to undermining the Irish Science communitys morale, the Publics trust in Irish Science is also damaged.

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Irish Stem Cell Foundation seeks to provide better legislation for stem cell research in Ireland - VIDEO