Universitat de Barcelona

Since the approval of the new Assisted Reproduction Act (November 2003), research can be undertaken in Spain on stem cells derived from frozen human embryos.

The Spanish Ministry of Health and Social Policy (MSPS), together with the Autonomous Communities, approved the creation of three research centres in July 2004:

• In Catalonia, the Barcelona Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CMRB)
• In Andalusia, the Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER)
• In Valencia, the Prince Felipe Research Centre (CIPF)

The basic task of the CMRB is to undertake research with human embryonic stem cells and various animal models in order to understand: 

• The basic mechanisms of initial development and organogenesis.
• The application of cell lines derived from stem cells (regenerative medicine) in diseases that involve a loss of cells (degenerative diseases).