HFEA grants embryonic stem cell research licence to study motor neuron disease
08 February 2005
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has granted a licence to the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh to create stem cells from embryos produced by cell nuclear replacement, a technique also referred to as therapeutic cloning.
The licence will allow researchers at the Institute to study Motor Neuron Disease, in particular, those patients whose condition cannot be linked to the genes already identified as causing the disease.
The Institute will use the technique to study stem cells made with the genetic material from patients with Motor Neuron Disease. Using these embryonic stem cells researchers can study the development of Motor Neuron Disease in patients who do not have the genes that are currently known to cause the disease. Whilst these embryonic stem cells would not be used to correct the disease, the study of these cells could help develop future treatments.
Angela McNab, Chief Executive of the HFEA said:
"The HFEA's role is to ensure research on human embryos is only carried out when it is viewed as necessary under strictly defined guidelines, outlined in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990).
"We recognise that Motor Neuron Disease is a serious congenital condition. Following careful review of the medical, scientific, legal and ethical aspects of this application, we felt it was appropriate to grant the Roslin Institute a one-year licence for this research into the disease."
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Notes to editors
The stem cells are made by combining skin cells donated by patients with Motor Neuron Disease whose condition cannot be linked to the genes already known to cause the disease, and eggs donated by women.
The genetic material (nucleus) will be removed from the egg and replaced with the genetic material (nucleus) of the donated skin cell. The egg is activated and allowed to grow into a 5–6 day old embryo. Cells from the embryo will be taken out to develop embryonic stem cells.
Research on human embryos is only allowed for certain purposes. Under the initial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) the HFEA could only grant licences if it was satisfied the use of human embryos was for one of the following purposes:
- To promote advances in the treatment of infertility
- To increase knowledge about the causes of congenital disease
- To increase knowledge about the causes of miscarriages
- To develop more effective techniques of contraception
- To develop methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities
In 2001 new regulations (The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001) were passed, adding three further purposes for research to the list above:
- Increasing knowledge about the development of embryos
- Increasing knowledge about serious disease
- Enabling any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatments for serious disease
Human reproductive cloning is illegal in the UK. As a result of the Human Reproductive Cloning Act (2001) nobody in the UK is allowed to use cell nuclear replacement, or any other technique, to create a child.
The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA's principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office.
Page last updated: 11 March 2009
Interested in embryo research currently taking place? Read summaries of projects licensed by the HFEA.