The purpose of the USC ESCRO committee is to provide oversight of all issues related to derivation and use of Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) research, and to provide education to investigators involved in hESC research.  This committee includes representatives of the public and persons with expertise in developmental biology, stem cell research, molecular biology, assisted reproduction, and ethical and legal issues in hESC research.   

The ESCRO committee:

• Provides oversight over all issues related to the derivation and use of hESC cell lines

• Reviews and approves the scientific merit of research protocols involving hESC. 

• Reviews compliance of all in-house hESC research with all relevant regulations.

• Maintains registries of hESC research conducted at USC and hESC lines derived or imported by USC investigators.

• Facilitates education of investigators involved in hESC research.

The IRB may not review a protocol that contemplates hESC research until it has received guidance from the ESCRO committee.  Therefore, all proposals that contemplate hESC research must first be submitted to Dr. Michael Lieber (lieber@usc.edu).