Stem Cell Links
1. Stem Cells (Biology and Ethics)
2. International Groups
3. Stem Cell Banks and Registries
4. Chronological Overview
5. National and International Institutions and Organisations
Welcome to the Stem Cell Links overview
Stem Cell Links is a guide to finding information on the ethical and political discussions on the regulation of stem cell research. It offers an overview of important stages in the public discussion and provides easy access to key documents from the German, British and American debates.
Stem Cell Links is a project of the Ethics Department of the Heidelberg University Theological Faculty.
1. Stem Cells (Biology and Ethics)
- What are stem cells?
- What are the different types of stem cells, and where do they come from?
- What is the potential for new medical treatments using stem cells?
- What research is needed to make such treatments a reality?
- What are stem cells?
- How are they extracted?
- What is the current state of affairs in research?
- What regulations are there regarding the research and use of stem cells?
Stem Cell Basics (USA) 
Website of the National Institutes of Health. The website addresses questions such as the following:
About Stem Cells (D) 
Website of the "Stem Cell Network North Rhine Westphalia", an initiative of the North Rhine Westphalian Ministry for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology. The website addresses questions such as the following:
In Focus: Embryonic Stem Cell Research (D)
Website of the "German Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences" (DRZE). The mission of the DRZE is to make the scientific information that is integral to formulating opinions and judgements on ethical questions in the life sciences and in medicine easily accessible.
Website of the"German Research Foundation" with opinions papers and background information on stem cell research.
2. International Groups
3. Stem Cell Banks and Registries
UK Stem Cell Bank (UK) 
European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry (EU)
Register nach § 11 Stammzellgesetz (StZG) beim Robert-Koch-Institut (D)
4. Chronological Overview
The abbreviations used here are explained below under number 4. The links to the websites can be found there as well.
5. National and International Institutions and Organisations
4.1 Germany
4.1.1 governmental
NER - Nationaler Ethikrat (bis Februar 2008)
DER - Deutscher Ethikrat (seit Februar 2008)
Catenhusen - Enquete Kommission „Gesellschaftliche Folgen der Gentechnologie“ in der 10. Wahlperiode des deutschen Bundestages. Da die Enquete-Kommission keinen Internetauftritt hat, kann hier nur auf den Bericht verwiesen werden.
Renesse - Enquete Kommission „Recht und Ethik der modernen Medizin“ in der 14. Wahlperiode des deutschen Bundestages
Röspel - Enquete Kommission „Ethik und Recht der modernen Medizin“ in der 15. Wahlperiode des deutschen Bundestages
Bioethik-RP - Bioethik-Kommission Rheinland-Pfalz in der 15. Wahlperiode des Landtages Rheinland-Pfalz
4.1.2 non-governmental
DFG- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
DBK - Deutsche Bischofskonferenz
EKD - Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland
Leopoldina - Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
BBAW - Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften / AG Gentechnologiebericht
4.2 International
4.2.1 governmental
EGE - European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EU)
HFEA - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (UK)
NBAC - National Bioethics Advisory Commission (USA)
4.2.2 non-governmental
Hastings - The Hastings center (USA)
Nuffield - Nuffield Council on Bioethics (UK)
SRTP - Society, Religion and Technology Project der Church of Scotland(UK)
