[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1017]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health

 

Notice of Meetings of Panel

    Notice is hereby given of the first meeting of the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH) Human Embryo Research Panel, a panel of 
special consultants to the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD), 
NIH, established to recommend guidelines for Federal funding of human 
embryo research. The Panel's first meeting will be held February 2-3, 
1994, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 2nd, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on 
the 3rd. The meeting will be held at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel, 5151 
Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, Maryland. Dates of subsequent Panel meetings 
will be determined at the first meeting.
    Until June 1993, Federal regulations governing research on human 
subjects (45 CFR part 46) required research involving in vitro 
fertilization (IVF) to be reviewed by an Ethics Advisory Board (EAB). 
Because of the absence of an EAB since 1980, Federal funding of IVF 
protocols was not possible. With the enactment of the NIH 
Revitalization Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-43), the regulatory provision 
requiring EAB review of IVF proposals was nullified. As a result, IVF 
proposals, as well as research involving human embryos that result from 
IVF or other sources, may now be considered for Federal funding.
    The NIH has received a number of applications for support in this 
area and in the related field of parthenogenesis. However, before 
proceeding with the consideration of specific human embryo research 
proposals for funding, the NIH must address the profound moral and 
ethical issues raised by the use of human embryos in research and 
develop guidelines to govern the review and conduct of Federally-funded 
research. Panel members will be asked to consider various areas of 
research involving the human embryo and provide advice as to those 
areas they view to be acceptable for Federal funding, areas that 
warrant additional review, and areas that are unacceptable for Federal 
support. For those areas of research considered acceptable for Federal 
funding, the Panel will be asked to recommend specific guidelines for 
the review and conduct of this research. Ethical issues related to 
human germ-line gene modification are not within the Panel's purview. 
The Panel's final report will be presented to the ACD for review.
    The NIH invites public input into this process. Those who wish to 
share their views about Federal funding of human embryo research may 
address the Panel during public comment periods that will be scheduled 
during each meeting. The public comment period during the first meeting 
is scheduled to take place February 2 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those who 
wish to address the Panel at this or subsequent meetings are asked to 
contact Ms. Peggy Schnoor, by telephoning 301-496-1454 or by sending a 
facsimile message to 301-402-0280 or 301-402-1759. Oral statements must 
not exceed five minutes in length, and opportunities to present 
statements will be determined by the order in which requests are 
received. Those who wish to present oral statements should forward a 
one-page summary of their remarks in advance of the scheduled 
presentation date. Individuals and organizations may also submit 
written comments of any length to the Panel. These should be forwarded 
to the NIH in care of Ms. Schnoor at 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 1, 
room 218, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
    The NIH will endeavor to provide seating for all members of the 
public who wish to attend the meetings. Individuals are, however, asked 
to notify the NIH of their interest in attending by using the telephone 
or facsimile numbers listed above. Individuals who require special 
accommodations are also asked to contact Ms. Schnoor at the above 
number. General questions about the Panel or the first meeting should 
also be directed to Ms. Schnoor.
    Future meetings of the Panel will be announced in this publication.

    Dated: January 10, 1994.
Harold Varmus,
Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 94-1017 Filed 1-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M