Singapore, Sept 18, 2008: Australian medical regulator National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has issued license to a Sydney firm to create cloned human embryo to obtain embryonic stem cells.

 

Sydney IVF, which received the government permission, has about 7,200 human eggs ready for research.

 

The regulator said Wednesday if the Sydney based invitro-fertilization company is successful in its endeavor, it will be the world’s first.

 

Earlier research on making stem cells mimicking human embryonic stem cells using a variety of techniques have been successful, scientists have been unable to obtain embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos.

 

The topper of NHMRC Dr John Findlay said the license doesn’t mean a free run to Sydney IVF. NHMRC will closely observe Sydney IVF's research.