Sent on behalf of the Office of Research’s ESCRO.
UW’s policy GIM 36 has been revised. Some of the major additions to the policy (in place since 2007) include oversight of some research involving human induced pluripotential stem cells (hiPSC). These stem cells in many ways function like human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) although they are not derived from embryos. Other oversight now includes organoids that have the potential to form neural networks or gametes and in vitro-developed embryos using hESCs or hiPSCs. Scientific advances in these fields were informed by the guidelines at ISSCR and are reflected in the updated GIM 36 in 2022.
Detailed changes include:
- Significantly shortened GIM 36 to take out procedural/process information – much of which will be placed on the ESCRO webpage.
- Oversight still includes:
- Studies involving in vitro passage or differentiation of hESC lines.
- Studies involving destruction of human embryos for research.
- Generation of embryos for research.
- Transplantation of hESCs, hiPSCs, or cells derived from either; into non-human research animals.
- New oversight added (based on ISSCR guidelines):
- Development of complex embryo models (e.g., blastoids, gastruloids, assembloids), brain organoids, or gametes from either hESCs or hiPSCs;
- In vitro culture of human embryos for research from 12 to 14 days after fertilization, or until the formation of the primitive streak, whichever occurs first.
Please inform your respective research community of these changes. The Office of Research ESCRO webpage has been revised to reflect changes to the policy. The webpage contains ESCRO policy and procedures and includes step-by-step instructions on when and how to submit applications. We plan on presenting at the 3/9/23 Monthly Research Administrator’s Meeting on the above changes and submission processes. We are also available to present these changes in your unit. We invite you to contact us if you’d like us to provide a brief presentation.
Contact us at escro@uw.edu with your questions.