Summary of request

The Authority was asked for the number of human embryos used in research in the UK each year.

HFEA response

In April 2010 the HFEA issued General Directions (http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/2009-06-03_GENERAL_DIRECTIONS_0002.pdf) requiring Persons Responsible for centres, licensed by the Authority, to carry out research to complete and submit to Authority a Research Information and Data Sheet, no later than 31 January each year. The data sheets for 2010 are currently being submitted. We have received forms from 11 out of the 18 research centres and we are actively chasing the remaining forms.  From the information submitted to date 64 embryos have been created for use in research and of these 64, seven have been used in research. None of these embryos were used in projects involving the use of embryos to derive embryonic stem cell lines. The seven embryos created and used in licensed research were used in a project which is studying the development of embryos. The other 57 embryos created under a research licence studying the processes involved in the creation of embryos. The embryos created were not used in any other studies.

Prior to 2010 information about the number of embryos used in licensed research was submitted prior to the HFEA inspecting research centres. This information may be found in the individual centre’s inspection reports. These reports are published on the HFEA website at http://www.hfea.gov.uk.

Page last updated: 16 August 2012