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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CBHD Welcomes NIH Revision of Controversial Grant

Chicago, Illinois - July 05, 2006 - In May, the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity expressed concerns about the use of federal funding that appeared to promote research into genetic re-engineering of human beings for non-therapeutic purposes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) responded promptly by clarifying the wording of the $773,000 grant given to Maxwell Mehlman and Case Law School.

The new grant proposal acknowledges that “Society has reached a clear consensus against attempting germ-line genetic interventions in humans” and that further guidelines are needed to “explicitly address the special issues of enhancement research” in order to protect human subjects.

The revised proposal adds, “…[T]his project will identify ethically relevant differences between therapeutic and enhancement genetic research and analyze these differences in terms of the ethical principles that govern human subjects research, in order to determine whether current rules and regulations adequately restrict enhancement research, and, if not, propose changes to existing rules and regulations so that society can respond effectively to possible future attempts to conduct genetic enhancement research using human subjects.”

Although CBHD remains cautious about the implications of this inquiry, we are encouraged by the NIH’s response and appreciate the careful wording of the revised grant abstract. We hope that the NIH will continue to share our concerns about the uses of genetic re-engineering for enhancement and the threat such experimentation poses for the dignity of the human species.
 

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About The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity

The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. CBHD recognizes that developments in healthcare and biotechnology create amazing opportunities as well as serious threats to
human dignity, and to human life itself. The Center brings biblical-Christian perspectives to bear on current and emerging bioethical challenges, by
developing cutting-edge critiques and constructive alternatives to meet the real human needs involved. CBHD

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Copyright 2006 by The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity

The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CBHD, its staff, board or supporters. Permission to reprint granted as long as The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and the web address for this article is referenced.