Introduction

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 requires the HFEA to regulate the creation, storage and use of embryos in research throughout the UK.

The Act was amended in 2001 to allow the use of embryos for stem cell research and consequently the HFEA has the responsibility for regulating all human embryonic stem cell research in the UK.

Under the Act, any research must relate to one or more of the following purposes:

• To promote advances in the treatment of infertility
• To increase knowledge about the causes of congenital diseases
• To increase knowledge about the causes of miscarriage
• To enhance knowledge in the development of more effective contraception
• Detection of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities before implantation
• To increase knowledge about the development of embryos 
• To increase knowledge about serious disease or
• To enable any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatment for serious disease 
   

Statistics

• 33 research projects are currently licensed by the HFEA
• 15 relates to derivation of embryonic stem cell lines
• 1 involves cell nuclear replacement
• 2 involves parthenogenesis