UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research

This memorandum announces the creation of the UCLA human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO) committee, a committee whose establishment was noted in the Preliminary Guidance on Conducting Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research at UCLA disseminated on August 2, 2005:  http://www.research.ucla.edu/researchpol/memos/prelim_stem_cell_guidance.htm. The creation of the ESCRO committee is an initial step to provide oversight of research involving human embryonic stem cells (hESC).  The establishment of this Committee is based on California law, guidelines published by the National Academies of Science (NAS) in spring 2005, and regulations recently promulgated by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).  The ESCRO will help ensure that UCLA hESC research meets the highest scientific, ethical, and legal standards while facilitating the conduct of such research.

The committee will be chaired by Department of Neurobiology Chair Marie-Francoise Chesselet, PhD. Staff support for the ESCRO committee will be provided by the Office of Research through the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC).  ESCRO committee review applications should be submitted to:

Ms. Courtney Carrell
ESCRO Committee
c/o Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
8-684 Factor Building
Mail Code: 178121

The policies, procedures, and forms for ESCRO review are at www.research.ucla.edu/researchpol/stemcelldocs.htm.

In addition to the ESCRO committee, the Campus is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal restrictions related to cells ineligible for federal funding.  To this end, investigators are required to complete a Personnel, Space, and Equipment Inventory form at www.research.ucla.edu/researchpol/stemcelldocs.htm for all research with hESCs or their derivatives that are ineligible for federal funding.  The form must be signed by the Department CAO and the Department Chair, ORU Director, or Division Chief prior to initiation of the research and should be held on file for future audit.  I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm campus policy for Consistent Budgeting and Costing Practices in Contract and Grant Proposals distributed on May 1, 2003:  http://www.research.ucla.edu/researchpol/memos/Budgeting_Costing_Practices.pdf.

BACKGROUND

California law permits hESC research only "after full consideration of the ethical and medical implications of this research" [CA Health and Safety Code 125300].  Consistent with the law, the NAS guidelines on hESC research recommend the scientific and ethical review as well as tracking of hESC research and cells.  Additionally, California law requires that all hESC research undergo prospective Institutional Review Board (IRB) review whether or not the research involves human subjects [CA Health and Safety Code 125119].  As a result, UCLA policy requires that all hESC research, regardless of sponsor or source of cells, undergo prospective ESCRO and IRB review.  Regulations recently promulgated by CIRM also outline ESCRO requirements, including the ESCRO review of all stem cell research they sponsor.  Federal restrictions on hESC research require the University to track specific data in order to ensure appropriate accounting of expenditures in this area.

If you are contemplating the conduct of hESC research and have specific questions that need answering, please contact Steven Peckman, Associate Director, UCLA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at ext. 54958 or speckman@mednet.ucla.edu.  In order to submit applications to the ESCRO committee and for inquiries concerning ESCRO review, please contact Ms. Courtney Carrell at ext. 55268 or ccarrell@mednet.ucla.edu.  Policy questions regarding human Embryonic Stem Cells should be addressed to my office through Barbara A. Levey, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research for Biomedical Affairs at ext. 64656, or blevey@conet.ucla.edu.