Research news

Read the lay summaries for these applications.

Read the HFEA statement on its decision regarding hybrid embryos.

Use of animal eggs in embryo research

8 November 2006

There have been recent news reports suggesting that some researchers in the UK are planning to apply to the HFEA for a licence to use animal eggs in human embryo research.

The animal eggs would be used for a technique called Cell Nuclear Replacement (CNR) where a cell from a human would be placed into the animal egg and activated so that it starts dividing as an embryo does. Although the vast majority of the DNA present in the embryo would be of human origin, some genetic material (mitochondrial DNA) from the animal, found in the part of the cell that produces energy, will still be present. After allowing the embryo to grow for several days, it is possible to attempt to obtain stem cells from the embryo. These stem cells may then be used to establish embryonic stem cell lines which can be used for further research.

The HFEA has now received an application to carry out research using animal eggs. The HFEA will not respond to these applications until the Authority has developed its policy on this issue including the status of, and the jurisdiction it has over, embryos created from a combination of human and non-human material. This decision is expected at the Authority meeting in January 2007.

Consideration of the use of human eggs in embryo research remains a high priority for the HFEA. The HFEA are currently carrying out a consultation on donating eggs for research which specifically focuses on human eggs. ?Donating eggs for research: safeguarding donors' looks at whether women should be allowed to donate eggs to research projects and if so how, how to best protect those that choose to do so."

The Creation of Embryos by Cell Nuclear Replacement (CNR)

The Authority has so far granted two licences to study the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines using nuclear transfer (therapeutic cloning).

We understand that this procedure evokes strong feelings, both for and against. We approached this decision very carefully and have reached a view based on a thorough evaluation of the available information a summary of which is below.

HFEA CNR Decision Report (86 Kb)
The report of how the HFEA made its decision to licence the creation of embryos by cell nuclear replacement.

Decision Tree for Research Licence Applications (77 Kb)

Extended Summary of the Research Project R0152 (98 Kb)

Licensing the use of Human Embryos (110 Kb)

HFEA Research Conference 2005

The HFEA held its third Annual Research Conference on 1 December 2005 in central London.

The conference brought embryo research experts together to discuss key issues.

Presentations from the day's guest speakers can be found below.

Glenda Cornwell: Why patients do or don't consent to donate their embryos to stem cell research (57.76 Kb)

Henry Leese: Research on human embryos: early embryo model systems (419 Kb)

Ian Sargent: Differential expression of alternatively spliced transcripts of HLA-G in human pre-implantation embryos (454 Kb)

Prof Roger Pederson: Mechanisms of pluripotency and epigenesis in human embryonic stem cells (1.37 Mb)

Inez Cooke: NICART ? N Ireland Registry for Children born after assisted Reproductive technologies (208 Kb)

Joy Delhanty: Outcome of 48 cycles of Preimplantation Genetic Screening (310 Kb)

Prof Andre Van Steirteghem: Research into infertility (127.5 Kb)

HFEA Research Licence Fees

The HFEA is pleased to announce the implementation of revised fees for research licences following a consultation process undertaken in the spring 2004.

For each licence granted which does not involve the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines the licence fee will be £500. The licence fee will increase to £750 for projects involving the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines reflecting the complexity of such projects to regulate.

The licence fee will apply to each licence granted whether the licence is linked to an HFEA licensed treatment centre or not and will affect licence applications received after the 1st December 2004.

The HFEA is able to keep the costs to research licences holders to a minimum due to Department of Health subsidisation.

Whilst the HFEA believes that this will further support embryology research in the United Kingdom, we will monitor the impact of this fees schedule on the research field.