"I think regenerative medicine - stem cell research - is an example of UK science at its best"
Members’ dining room, House of Commons
19 May 2009
Thank you, and it’s a real pleasure for me to able to join you here for this real celebration of UK success. I think regenerative medicine - stem cell research - is an example of UK science at its best. But at its best in terms of the way in which we have created here in the United Kingdom world leadership in this area, because of the way in which the scientific community has engaged with the general public through Parliament to convince the general public, I think, of the vital importance of this area of research, but in doing so recognising some of the ethical challenges that the science throws up and creating here in the UK, uniquely, I think, effective legislative framework. Really an example, I think, of the House of Commons and House of Lords at its best, which has led to the position which we enjoy today of world leadership in the area.
Now, that has been done in an environment where the United States, up until very recently with the change of administration, has not been so positive about this area of science. With the change of the new President we can expect a real blossoming, I believe, of scientific endeavour in regenerative medicine in the United States. And so, therefore, it’s important for us to recognise in the UK this is both an opportunity and a threat. It’s an opportunity for us to collaborate further with our colleagues in the United States, but it’s a threat to us if we don’t maintain our investment, if we don’t maintain the development of the appropriate legislative and regulatory framework as the science progress, and if we do not continue to engage and bring the general public with us as the science progresses to market.
This is a science which has great potential but is still at an early stage, and it is so important that we don’t over-promise too early the potential benefits of this science. We have to keep expectations realistic in tune with the scientific development lies, and this is something which I know the scientific community is concerned about.
So I just want to finally stress how we see this as an area of real focus within our research priorities. We wish to focus on those areas where the United Kingdom has real world leadership, where we can exploit the real asset that we have within a strong National Health Service, and it’s an area which we’re going to continue to be supporting in the future. Thank you.
