PRESENT: Lord Habgood, Dr David Cook, Mr John Dark, Dr Janet Dewdney, Mrs Jean Gaffin, Professor George Griffin, Dr Maggy Jennings, Professor Sheila McLean, Professor Herb Sewell.

SECRETARIAT: Mr Martin Houghton, Ms Jennie Mullins

MATTERS ARISING

Discussion with Home Office

The Secretariat had written to the Secretary of the Home Office, Animal Procedures Committee (APC), outlining proposals for ways to strengthen ties between the Home Office, APC, and UKXIRA. The APC was preparing a paper for discussion at its next meeting.

APC Primates sub-group

Dr Jennings reported that she has been invited to join the APC primates' sub-group.

REVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Members noted various items on the development of cloning technology. Moves by the US Public Health Service towards greater national control of xenotransplantation clinical trials were also noted.

Members discussed the press statement released by BioTransplant Inc. The statement had suggested that it may be possible to breed miniature swine that do not produce Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERV) capable of infecting human cells. It was agreed that further evidence was required before a full assessment could be made.

Members discussed various scientific papers including recently published data on the possibility of cross-species infection, notably of PERV.

They also considered other developments that might represent alternatives to xenotransplantation, - such as the potential of stem cell technology, development of artificial heart pumps, and liver assist devices using cell-lines of human origin.

It was agreed that a submission would be put to Government Ministers offering a review of progress made in xenotransplantation to date. The review would also be included in the 3^rd Annual Report.

BIOSECURITY REPORT

The final Biosecurity report was submitted to the UKXIRA for consideration. The report was approved for submission to Ministers.

INFECTION SURVEILLANCE REPORT

The final Infection Surveillance report was submitted to the UKXIRA for consideration. The report was approved for submission to Ministers.

UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENTS

Members considered recent published articles on xenotransplantation.

It was noted that the latest published government statistics on scientific research involving animals showed a further increase in the use of transgenic animals.

The Council of Europe's draft report on xenotransplantation had been issued for consultation.

Systematic Literature Review- the Infection review had been completed and was currently undergoing peer review. Publication in the New Year was anticipated.

As of 4 September, a total of 19,606 postcards opposed to xenotransplantation had been received

THIRD OPEN MEETING

The Third Open Meeting will take place on Wednesday 7^th February 2001, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Institute of Biomedical Science Congress

Members had been invited to take part in the IBMS Congress, on 25 September 2001, in Birmingham. It was agreed that Lord Habgood, Professor Griffin and Dr Dewdney would attend.

WHO/OECD Infection Surveillance Workshop - Paris

The event would take place on 4 - 6 October in Paris. Participants would be considering requirements for Infection Surveillance from an international perspective.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 4^th December 2000.

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