We are pleased to announce that UOIs Professor Katrien Devolder has been appointed as a member of the Nuffield Council working group which will explore arguments for and against extending the 14-day time limit for human embryo research.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 1990 (as amended in 2008) states that human embryos can only be cultured in a UK laboratory for a maximum of 14 days, a rule that has been adopted in many jurisdictions worldwide. However, human embryo research has advanced in recent years, its potential now raising questions around whether the 14-day time limit should be extended.
The project will explore the current and future ethical, scientific, social, and policy considerations related to the 14-day rule for human embryo research, with the aim of informing UK legislative reform. The project activities will take place across four phases, overseen and guided by a multidisciplinary working group.
Phase 1: Review of the short-, medium- and long-term potential of the science of human embryo research, including future scenario mapping.
Phase 2: Review of the ethics of human embryo research, including future scenario mapping.
Phase 3: UK-based deliberative dialogue to understand public views and values surrounding human embryo research and its limits.
Phase 4: Review of evidence gathered in phases 1-3 and deliberation of different policy options that take into account trade-offs, stakeholder and public attitudes, and the international research landscape.
The interdisciplinary group will oversee project activities and work collaboratively to explore and review the evidence gathered throughout the four phases of this project.
For full list of Working Group Members, see link below.
