Health committee  CIHR established a research ethics board, an REB, the Stem Cell Oversight Committee, to ensure the research the agency funds complies with the guidelines. Within the guidelines are a number of criteria for consent. The Stem Cell Oversight Committee makes sure that consent forms a

Health committee  The Stem Cell Oversight Committee has considered protocols involving frozen and non-frozen.

Health committee  There are a few things here. CIHR, the Stem Cell Oversight Committee, has considered protocols—

Health committee  Yes. CIHR is not doing the research. The research is being done out there by researchers. Not only that, but the Stem Cell Oversight Committee—

Health committee  I'm sorry. Could I ask you to reframe the question?

Health committee  The answer is no.

Health committee  Correct.

Health committee  That's correct.

Health committee  That's a good—

Health committee  Imagine a situation in which a woman or a couple were to say they were prepared to go through one cycle, but no more. Under those circumstances, all the embryos except the ones transferred into the woman would be surplus. That is an example. I should also tell you the stem cell

Health committee  The CIHR guidelines predate the statute and predate, obviously, the regulations. CIHR takes very seriously its role and obligation to be subject to the law, and at present the guidelines are in compliance with the law. This is the advice we've had from Justice Canada. This is th

Health committee  CIHR is a funding agency, it does not develop regulations. Therefore, we did not play a role in the consultation process. Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to answer your question.

Health committee  Our concern is making sure that research is done ethically. We don’t touch legislative issues because they are not part of our mandate. I would not be comfortable giving an opinion, as it would be my own and not that of the interested parties. I’m sorry, but I can’t answer your

Health committee  Thank you, Mr. Merrifield. My name is Burleigh Trevor-Deutsch. I am the director of the Ethics Office at CIHR. With me here is Dr. Pierre Chartrand, who is the vice-president of research. First of all, let me thank you for inviting us here today. Canadian Institutes of Health