Notice of Meetings of Panel

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