LONDON, March 1 (UPI) -- Britain has asked the two of its stem cell research councils to run a public debate to learn public concerns and views on stem cells.
These organizations, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council as well as the Medical Research Council have been tasked with gaining an insight into public attitudes towards stem cell research.
Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks said the government believed stem cell research offered enormous potential to deliver new treatments for "devastating" diseases without cure, in a speech delivered at a leadings experts meeting in London Thursday.
"Huge numbers of people are affected by these disease and Britain is a world leader in stem cell research," Wicks said.
However, the minister stressed the need for proper dialogue with the wider public on the future of stem cell research.
"We need to raise public awareness about the potential opportunities and challenges in this area," Wicks said.
The discussion is set to begin in a few months with the recruitment of a commission group, followed by an official launch in the fall of 2007.
BBSRC Chief Executive Julia Goodfellow said the new program would allow the science community to talk to people about the first-class science in Britain and what the realistic applications are likely to be.
In addition, the Medical Council's Chief Executive Colin Blakemore said discussion would help scientist understand the potential of their work and policy-makers aware of the publics view.
"Open dialogue could help us move more quickly towards potential therapies," Blakemore said.
The BBSRC and the MRC have been awarded a Sciencewise grant of $588,000 (300,000 pounds) to fund the program.
