HFEA Statement on Warwick University hybrid embryo research

30 June 2008

An HFEA Licence Committee has approved an application from the Clinical Sciences Research Institute, University of Warwick for the creation of hybrid embryos. The centre has been offered a 12 month licence with effect from 1st July.

The Licence Committee was satisfied that the research was permissible within the law and met the criteria required by the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

Further information

Notes to editors

The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research. 

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:

Paula Woodward
Press officer
Tel: 020 7291 8226

Brenda Irons-Roberts
Media Relations Manager
Tel: 020 7291 8224

John Paul Maytum
Head of Communications
Tel: 020 7291 8225

press.office@hfea.gov.uk

Out of hours urgent press contact Tel: 07771 981 920

Last updated: 30 June 2008