[Brain drain in stem cell research? The views and attitudes of stem cell researchers in Germany]

The legal status of stem cell research in Germany has most recently been debated at the highest political level. Stakeholders have argued referring to the situation of stem cell researchers in past debates; however, a survey of the views and attitudes of German stem cell researchers is currently being performed by the University of Marburg also involving a team at Exeter University. Here, we present some of the first findings from this study on the basis of 14 qualitative interviews and 117 responses to the quantitative survey. The data suggest that the motives for engaging in particular areas of research are multilayered. Respondents take a critical view towards the way in which research on human embryonic stem cells has been regulated. The majority of interviewees rejected a change in legislation involving the amendment of the cut-off date for the import of human embryonic stem cells lines. Also, the recent changes in the German regulation of stem cell research that, among other changes, include a change of the cut off date for the production of lines which could become used in the country from January 2002 to May 2007 appear not to be received as a satisfactory solution of the constraints experienced by science through the law in Germany.