About the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (UC-ESCRO) at Storrs-UConn

1.1 - The ESCRO's Establishment
1.2 - The ESCRO's Responsibility
1.3 - The ESCRO's Membership
1.4 - The ESCRO's Policies

1.1 The ESCRO's Establishment

In order to provide appropriate oversight of human embryonic stem cell research, The University of Connecticut has established the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (UC-ESCRO). The UC-ESCRO shall provide oversight of all ethical issues related to the derivation and research use of human stem cell lines at all schools, colleges, campuses, and research arms of the University of Connecticut regardless of the source of funding, and shall review all proposals submitted by University investigators for funds from the Connecticut Stem Cell Research Grant Project. To the best of its ability, the UC-ESCRO committee will strive to ensure that sensitive research is well-justified and that inappropriate research is not conducted.

Research within the scope of UC-ESCRO review may not be conducted without prior written approval of the Committee. Failure to comply with oversight policies of the UC-ESCRO may result in disciplinary action in accordance with University policies.

1.2 The ESCRO's Responsibility

The UC-ESCRO Committee is responsible for the following:

  1. Provide oversight over all issues related to the procurement and use of human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines;
  2. Develop guidelines for the University of Connecticut with respect to research involving hES cell lines and their derivatives consistent with State of Connecticut Public Act No. 05-149;
  3. Provide scientific and ethical review of, and approve in writing, research protocols using human stem cells as required by the committee's guidelines and policies;
    • (a) Receive and review documentation of compliance of all in-house human stem cell research with applicable regulatory requirements and University of Connecticut policies, including guidelines to be developed with respect to research involving hES cell lines. This shall include projects initiated prior to the establishment of the ESCRO committee;
    • (b) Ensure documentation of the provenance of human stem cell lines, including evidence of IRB review and approval of the procurement process as appropriate;
  5. Review cases of collaborative research with investigators at other institutions to determine if procedures prescribed by their institution afford protections equivalent to U.S., Connecticut, or University of Connecticut guidelines or may be substituted for one or more of these guidelines;
  6. Maintain registries of all hES cell research conducted at the University of Connecticut and hES cell lines derived or imported by institutional investigators, including lines imported prior to the establishment of the committee. At a minimum the registry will include information regarding all of the following, unless requirement for documentation has been waived:
    • (a) whether the cells were obtained ethically and with informed consent;
    • (b) whether they are screened for safety;
    • (c) the conditions under which they are maintained and stored;
  7. Facilitate education of investigators involved in hES cell research with respect to relevant ethical, legal, and policy issues in hES cell research;
  8. Monitor local, state, national, and international ethical, regulatory, and policy discussions and make recommendations to modify University of Connecticut policy as needed; and
  9. Provide advice on ethical issues related to human stem cell research as requested by University of Connecticut administrators, oversight committees, or individual investigators.

1.3 The ESCRO's Membership

UC-ESCRO members shall be jointly appointed by and report to both the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education at Storrs and the Associate Dean for Research Planning and Coordination at the Health Center. Membership of the UC-ESCRO will reflect the scientific, medical, and ethical expertise necessary to perform the above responsibilities.

Membership will include faculty representatives of UCHC and of the University of Connecticut, one or two members of the public, and a person with expertise in assisted reproduction. Ex officio members of the committee will include the Director of Research Compliance at the Health Center, the Director of Research Compliance at Storrs, and one representative from each campus IRB.

1.4 The ESCRO's Policies

Review and approval by the ESCRO is in addition to and is not a replacement for other University policies, federal regulations, and state and local laws governing research. Other policies that may need to be considered include but are not limited to reviews by animal care committees, Institutional Review Boards, Biological Safety Committees, HIPAA, etc.).

Last revised April 27, 2006