Catholic and Muslim scholars have pointed out that success in adult stem cell research is being underplayed in favour of more controversial work using cells from embryos because of the “aggressive secularism” or “personal investment” of researchers.
Worldwide there have been three clinical trials using embryonic cells, derived from embryos discarded during in vitro fertilisation treatment, and none using adult cells.
A spokesman for the Islamic Medical Association UK said he was astonished that many people did not know about the “high success rate” of adult stem cell technology.