Nature Methods Publishes a Commentary Coauthored by Assoc. Prof. Kazuto Kato

December 22, 2009

Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) Adj. Assoc. Prof. Kazuto Kato, concurrently associate professor at the university's Institute for Research in Humanities as well as the Graduate School of Biostudies, has coauthored a Nature Methods paper surveying approaches to stem cell research policy in Canada, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The commentary appeared as part of a special issue of the journal in which induced pluripotent sten (iPS) cells, first successfully generated by CiRA* Director and iCeMS Principal Investigator Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, were named "Method of the Year" for 2009. Other contributors included Timothy Caulfield (Professor at the University of Alberta) and Amy Zarzeczny (Research Associate at the University of Alberta).

*CiRA: Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, iCeMS, Kyoto University

[Abstract]
The field of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will be subject to a wide range of laws and research ethics policies, many of which exist as a result of the controversies associated with research on human embryonic stem cells. Understanding this potentially complex regulatory environment will help iPSC research move forward and will inform future policy.

Stem cell research policy and iPS cells
Timothy Caulfield, Christopher Scott, Insoo Hyun, Robin Lovell-Badge, Kazuto Kato & Amy Zarzeczny
Nature Methods**, 7, 28-33, 2010 (Published online 21 Dec 2009)
DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.f.282

** Impact Factor: 13.651
(1st/65 in Biochemical Research Method | 2008 Journal Citation Reports)