Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and The Rockefeller University (RU) – collectively referred to as the Tri-SCI – has established the Tri-SCI Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (ESCRO). The committee ensures that research involving human embryos, hES cells, covered hPS research and research designed or expected to generate human gametes ("gamete generating research") is conducted in a manner consistent with and in compliance with established regulatory and institutional requirements at the three institutions. "Covered hPS research" is defined as all research involving the transplantation of hPS into animals at any stage of development or maturity or use of hPS cells in in vitro experiments designed or expected to yield gametes (oocytes or sperm). These procedures apply to all human embryo research, hES cell research, covered hPS research and gamete generating research (collectively referred to as "ESCRO Reviewed Research") regardless of the funding sources.
All WCMC investigators who intend to perform research involving human embryonic stem cells must submit notification to the Tri-Institutional ESCRO Committee. This requirement applies to all HESC research, regardless of the funding sources.
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Full instructions for submitting a New Study Submission is provided in the Tri-Institutional Research Operating Procedures for ESCRO Reviewed Research.
ESCRO (oversight/ or review) includes:
Note: Some studies may qualify for expedited review while others may be discussed at a full board meeting. Expedited review by the ESCRO Chair may be requested for purely in vitro research involving pre-existing, de-identified HESC lines and/or hPS cell lines and/or multipotent human stem cell lines and/or human somatic cell lines derived from HESC and/or hPS, with notice of research, documentation of the provenance of the cell lines, and evidence of compliance with any required or mandated institutional oversight committees. Contact wcm-escro@med.cornell.edu to determine whether your protocol qualifies for expedited review.
How to submit for ESCRO review:
To have a protocol reviewed by the Tri-SCI ESCRO, the Principal Investigators ("PIs") must submit an application, using the on-line programs listed below. The application must include the following:
Training:
The PI and all researchers who will conduct research using any of the categories listed below must complete the related on-line training module and the on-line post test with 100% accuracy before initiating the covered research. The PI is responsible for ensuring that members of the laboratory whose work will involve any of the covered categories of research completes the appropriate on-line training module and on-line posttest before initiating that work.
Annual reports are due for ESCRO review by the anniversary of ESCRO approval. Reports are submitted to ESCRO using the form linked below. The progress reports will be reviewed by the ESCRO at its next scheduled meeting. Failure to submit timely progress reports may be grounds for suspension of approval to continue the research. Reports should be submitted to the ESCRO meeting scheduled on or before this date.
Note: Outcome letters for annual progress reports are only provided if the ESCRO committee requires PI follow up.
Amendments are submitted using the Amendment Submission Form.
Note: Amendment submissions should be submitted in real-time to the ESCRO committee for review.
