Breakthroughs in stem cell research (SCR) and regenerative medicine (RM) have attracted significant public attention worldwide. Simultaneously, scientific communities and science policies have tried ...to establish appropriate governance of SCR and RM. In this context, effective communication between scientific communities and the public is regarded as a key factor. However, the diversity of public attitudes and interests has not been sufficiently examined, especially the differences across countries.
We conducted an international comparison of public attitudes toward SCR and RM. We circulated an internet questionnaire among people in six countries: Japan, South Korea, the United States, the UK, Germany, and France. We collected 100 valid responses from each country, and a total of 600 responses were obtained.
Our key findings are the diversity of interests in RM, which can be expressed as user pragmatism, governance and handling of RM, risk, and benefit, and scientific interests. The priority of interests varied across the six countries, and the variations may be influenced by the political, social, cultural, and media contexts of SCR and RM in each country.
The implications can contribute to a deeper understanding of the diversity of public attitudes, and bring about an appropriate examination of a wide range of ethical and social concerns of SCR and RM in global contexts.
•There are differences in public attitudes and expected RM across six countries.•There are types of interests in RM, such as user pragmatism, governance and handling of RM, etc.•Recognition of keywords of iPSCs is very high in Japan, comparing to other countries.•The trust of experts on RM are different across countries.
This paper presents a comparison of the 2021 guidelines for stem cell research and clinical translation outlined by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) with the current ...regulations in Japan regarding the performance of such research. This paper provides a convenient English-language summary of the Japanese regulations, and illustrates the difference between the ISSCR guidelines and Japanese regulations regarding the conditions of implementation of study activities using human embryos or stem cells, for researchers outside Japan. The regulations governing the performance of research activities using human embryos or stem cells in Japan are relatively complex and comprise a range of laws and guidelines; the specific rules applied depend on the characteristics of each study. Therefore, even similar research activities may differ in terms of not only the guidelines or laws implemented, but also the procedures required. Such situations may confuse researchers.
•This paper compares the 2021 guidelines of the ISSCRwith the current regulations of Japan.•The ISSCR guidelines and Japanese regulations differ in several respects.•The complex regulations in Japan may confuse researchers.
Rules and ethical considerations regarding research on embryo models have been debated across numerous countries. In this paper, we provide insights from our attitude survey conducted among Japanese ...researchers, including members of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, and among the general public residing in Japan, the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Our survey revealed that many researchers expressed the need for clear guidelines for embryo model research. Furthermore, a minority but significant portion of the general public in each country expressed opposition to research on embryo models but did not oppose research involving real embryos.
•An attitude survey was conducted on research involving human embryo models•Many researchers believe that rules for research on embryo models must be clarified.•A small number of the general public opposed research on embryo models, but did not oppose research on real embryos.
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has eliminated its prohibition on research involving the culturing of human embryos beyond 14 days within the updated 2021 guidelines. We ...conducted a survey of Japanese researchers working in stem cell- or embryo-related research (n = 535) and the public (n = 3,000) about their attitudes toward the 14-day rule. Among the researchers, 46.2% agreed that embryos could be cultured beyond 14 days, a result that was slightly lower among the public (37.9%). Among those that disagreed with embryo culturing beyond 14 days, 9.5% of researchers and 5.1% of the public agreed with culturing embryos within 14 days. Among the public, higher comprehension levels correlated with both agreement and disagreement with the culture of embryos beyond 14 days compared with “cannot judge.” Further research and pubic discourse are necessary in order to better understand the factors informing participant decisions regarding the 14-day rule.
•Research activity involving human embryo culture beyond 14 days•Survey of Japanese researchers working on stem cell- or embryo-related research•Public’s attitudes toward research involving the culture of human embryos
Hideki Yui and colleagues conducted a survey of Japanese researchers and the public about their attitudes toward research activity involving human embryo cultures beyond 14 days. They presented that information dissemination for the public was necessary to raise the level of the debate even if this means an increase in both support and opposition.
The rules for human fetal tissue (HFT) research in Japan are unclear.
In this paper, we conducted a web survey to examine the attitudes of Japanese researchers (n=535) and the public (n=3,000) toward ...HFT research.
The results demonstrated that 5.8% of researchers and 18.8% of the public explicitly opposed HFT research, and 71.8% of the researchers thought that the rules for HFT research need to be clarified. Even among researchers who intended to consider conducting HFT research, 74.2% responded that the rules should be clarified. Although different from attitudes to make decisions regarding HFT donation, being non-religious and in their reproductive age among women in the public group were factors for accepting attitudes toward HFT research.
To establish the rules, it is necessary to develop a system that can adequately protect vulnerable women who are asked to provide HFT.
•The rules for HFT research in Japan are unclear.•Web survey examined Japanese researchers' and public attitudes toward HFT research.•More public explicitly opposed HFT research than researchers.•Most researchers who intended to consider conducting HFT stated that the rules need clarification.
Owing to the rapid progress in stem cell research (SCR) and regenerative medicine (RM), society's expectation and interest in these fields are increasing. For effective communication on issues ...concerning SCR and RM, surveys for understanding the interests of stakeholders is essential. For this purpose, we conducted a large‐scale survey with 2,160 public responses and 1,115 responses from the member of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine. Results showed that the public is more interested in the post‐realization aspects of RM, such as cost of care, countermeasures for risks and accidents, and clarification of responsibility and liability, than in the scientific aspects; the latter is of greater interest only to scientists. Our data indicate that an increased awareness about RM‐associated social responsibility and regulatory framework is required among scientists, such as those regarding its benefits, potential accidents, abuse, and other social consequences. Awareness regarding the importance of communication and education for scientists are critical to bridge the gaps in the interests of the public and scientists. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018;7:251–257
Gaps in focus between the public and scientists regarding factors considered important for the acceptance of stem cell research and regenerative medicine (p < .01).
It is essential to understand the hurdles, motivation, and other issues affecting scientists' active participation in science communication to bridge the gap between science and society. This study ...analyzed 1115 responses of Japanese scientists regarding their attitudes toward science communication through a questionnaire focusing on the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine. As a result, we found that scientists face systemic issues such as lack of funding, time, opportunities, and evaluation systems for science communication. At the same time, there is a disparity of attitudes toward media discourse between scientists and the public.
•Scientists face systemic issues: lack of funding, time, opportunities, and evaluation systems.•For over 15 years, scientists have continued to face infrastructural issues.•The expected counterpart of communication was “policymaker” and “patient or patient group.”•There was a difference in scientists' and public responses to media discourses.
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