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AS BIOMEDICAL research in Singapore hots up, a delicate matter has to be resolved: encouraging women to donate their highly-prized eggs, yet averting a for-sale approach.
Human eggs can potentially unlock the secrets of disease, but are in extremely short supply the world over.
This high demand for eggs for research has led to a handful of places worldwide that allow payment to donors. These include the US, Britain and Hong Kong.
But the trading of human eggs in Singapore is strictly prohibited, and the Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) is looking to instead reimburse women who go through the trouble and discomfort of donating their eggs.
It is now seeking the views of the public and over 80 groups, including religious bodies, universities and research groups, on this question: What is a reasonable amount of compensation?
The BAC will take their views into account and make its recommendation on what a reasonable amount of compensation is, probably next year.
Unlike sperm donation, harvesting eggs is long-drawn and elaborate, requiring weeks of painful hormone injections, blood tests and a minor surgical procedure.
Currently, Singapore researchers get their supply of human eggs from women who, while undergoing fertility treatment, may donate their excess eggs for research.
Eggs may also be retrieved from cadavers, or from surgical procedures like the removal of ovaries.
Yesterday, the BAC's chairman, Professor Lim Pin, summed up the committee's dilemma thus: 'We don't want women to donate their eggs for financial gain. That opens up Pandora's box.'
The committee is adamantly against the United States-model, a free-for-all situation where donors are paid up to US$15,000 (S$21,596) for eggs.
'There will be no payment for tissue,' Prof Lim Pin said.
The concern is that women, especially lower-income ones, will be coerced to sell their eggs, as has happened elsewhere.
Ideally, the committee said, donations should be made for altruistic reasons.
'But it makes our job as scientists very difficult to appeal to the altruistic side of people,' Prof Lim said, adding: 'Demand is growing very fast. There really aren't enough eggs to go around.'
With Singapore making major forays into stem cell research, the need for eggs is even more urgent.
'We need this to move to the next level of research,' Prof Lim said.
Eggs develop into embryonic stem (ES) cells, which have the ability to divide into any type of cell.
Scientists hope to harness this ability to 'reprogramme' normal adult cells. Ultimately, patients could hold the cure for cancers and diseases like Parkinson's, within their own cells.
There are between 20 and 30 groups here currently working on projects related to ES cells, said Professor Lee Eng Hin, BAC member and co-chairman of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium.
taniat@sph.com.sg
RESEARCH FUELS DEMAND FOR HUMAN EGG CELLS, SINGAPORE
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