RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association's Statement On Federally Funded Stem Cell Research

Barbara Collura, Executive Director

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association (RESOLVE) applauds and supports the final guidelines, “National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research" published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (Executive Order 13505). RESOLVE, the leading patient advocacy organization for women and men diagnosed with infertility, states the importance of these guidelines in outlining the use of federal funds for stem cell research. RESOLVE strongly supports the right of infertility patients to decide what to do with their surplus embryos.  Patients on their family building journey who desire to donate their embryos for research can now be confident that the research will be “ethically responsible, scientifically worthy, and conducted in accordance with applicable law.”

Surveys suggest that nearly half of infertile couples say they would like to see some good come from their biological tissue and feel that the use of their embryos for research that may help save lives is extremely important.  The guidelines outline the use of federal funds for human embryonic stem cell research.

For more information on embryo disposition, click here.  For information on donating embryos to other couples including the location of workshops covering the legal, medical, and mental-health aspects of embryo donation, click here.