How to apply for a research licence

The HFEA has the power to grant research licences for up to three years for individual research projects. All licence applications, renewals and progress reports are evaluated by an HFEA Research Licence Committee.

The majority of researchers contact the HFEA to discuss their proposed research before they submit an application for a licence. Existing licence holders liaise directly with the HFEA Regulation Department on renewals and evaluations.

The HFEA is committed to processing 90% of research licence applications within three months of receipt of a properly completed application form. Research ethics approval should have been sought from a properly constituted ethics committee before an application is made.

Completed applications are sent to the HFEA Regulation Department with an administration fee.

The administration fee is currently £500 for most projects.  Projects involving the derivation of human embryonic stem cells or cell nuclear replacement incurr an administration fee of £750 which reflects on the increased complexity and rigour required for the licensing of such projects.

The HFEA Regulation Deparment then initiates peer reviews which determine whether the application:

• Comes within the statutory requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
• Requires human embryos to fulfil its aims and objectives
• Requires the numbers and types of embryos described in the application
• Meets the requirements of the HFEA Code Of Practice

If the peer reviews are satisfactory, the HFEA initiates visits to proposed research sites. These visits are conducted by HFEA regulation staff and independent scientific inspectors. Fuller teams may take part in the visits if the research application is of a novel or complex nature. The primary focus of these visits is to review proposed project protocols, inspect research laboratories and to meet research teams.

Guidance notes on completing all research licence applications (160 Kb)

Initial Application for a Research Licence (72.1 Kb)

Research Progress Report (76.1 Kb)

Renewal of Research Application (81.6 Kb)

Research final report (41 Kb)