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PRESENT: Lord Habgood, Dr David Cook, Mr John Dark, Dr Janet Dewdney, Mrs Jean Gaffin, Professor George Griffin, Dr Maggy Jennings, Professor Herb Sewell. SECRETARIAT: Mr Martin Houghton, Ms Jennie Mullins Apologies: Professor Sheila McLean DIARIES OF DESPAIR An Uncaged Campaigns report Diaries of Despair had been submitted to the UKXIRA. The report, based on confidential documents obtained without consent from Imutran, made detailed allegations of animal suffering in xenotransplantation experiments commissioned by Imutran and performed at Huntingdon Life Sciences. The UKXIRA were subsequently that the report and the documents on which it was based were subject to an injunction preventing the use and dissemination beyond certain authorised recipients of the material. REPORT TO MINISTERS Members considered an initial draft report to Ministers and were content with the proposed layout and content. The Report will be accompanied by a covering submission from the Secretariat. The report would form the basis for the UKXIRA's Third Annual Report. UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT Members considered recent published articles on xenotransplantation. Work in the development of stem cell technology was noted. Published Articles Members noted various items. A paper by Cozzi et al described the longest survival time (78 days) yet reported of a primate receiving a life-supporting porcine renal xenotransplant. A paper by Adams et al reported the authors' view that 90 day survival times needed to be achieved consistently under a clinically tolerable regimen before a move to clinical trials in cardiac xenotransplantation could be justified. The paper concluded that this appeared to be years away. Consideration of the quality of survival was also apparent in a position paper by the American Society of Transplantation and American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Definition of Xenotransplantation An infection Surveillance workshop in Paris had highlighted the need to have a harmonised definition of xenotransplantation worldwide. The definition now in force in the USA was noted and Members agreed to discuss further. Animal Welfare Issues Members were advised of the continuing campaign to close Huntingdon Life Sciences (HSL). Campaigns As of 27 November, a total of 19,629 postcards opposed to xenotransplantation had been received Report of the Strasbourg Meeting Mrs Gaffin attended the 5th European Conference of National Ethics Committees Science, Communication and Society. A summary note of the meeting was provided to Members for information. Report of the Norwegian Xenotransplantation Working Party Members noted a report of a meeting with the Norwegian Xenotransplantation Working Party. THIRD OPEN MEETING The Third Open Meeting will take place on Wednesday 7th February 2001, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London. Advice had been sought from the Department's Solicitors on the use of cameras in the meeting. Invitations would state that cameras would not be permitted at the event without prior permission. DATES FOR 2001 The dates for meetings in 2001 were agreed as follows: Wednesday 7th February Monday 14th May Monday 10th September Tuesday 4th December ANY OTHER BUSINESS Members noted that International Animal Rights Day would be held on Saturday 10 December. Dr David Cook and Prof John Dark had agreed to provide interviews for US and Australian film crews respectively. DATE OF NEXT MEETING and OPEN MEETING The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 7th February 2001.
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