Are animal-to-human transplantation clinical trials permitted in Australia?
No. This is because in 2004, NHMRC recommended that there should be no clinical trials in Australia for five years (the Recommendation). The Recommendation (sometimes referred to as a moratorium) will lapse in December 2009. The reasons: After considering the scientific, ethical and technical issues surrounding animal-to-human transplantation, NHMRC concluded that the risks of transmission of animal viruses to transplant recipients and the wider community had not been adequately resolved. The NHMRC also regarded animal-to-human transplantation to be at an early stage and that patients taking part in clinical trials would not benefit significantly.
