Scientists must be engaged with the public if the UK is to stay a leader in stem cell science, regulator warns

15 Nov 2005

Public attitude study shows effective regulation is crucial to maintaining the delicate balance of public opinion

The UK's research community must engage properly with the public if the country is to stay a leader in stem cell science and embryo research, the sector's regulator has warned.

Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust conference on stem cell research in London today, Suzi Leather, Chair of the HFEA, said that researchers must continue to be engaged with public opinion to provide confidence about the work that they are doing, reassuring people that their research is beneficial and appropriate.

Suzi presented the conference with the results of a public attitude study, showing that opinions towards embryo research (including stem cell developments) are finely balanced with people saying that effective regulation is key to maintaining confidence in the sector.

She warned that experience elsewhere had shown that if the public fail to be convinced that researchers are acting appropriately and with proper scrutiny, then the broadly supportive consensus for research could break down, with clear consequences for the future progress of science.

Suzi told the conference:

"Public opinion on embryo research is delicately balanced between optimism and fear. The current consensus allows research to progress.

"But the lessons from the public attitude study are clear. Public support exists but it is not unconditional - we need to work constantly to maintain this consensus.  There is a need for continued engagement between scientists and the public. And the public wants to see effective scrutiny and checks in place.

"A key factor in explaining why we in the UK have been able to develop a more accepting environment for stem cell work is the public confidence in the system of regulation which we have had in place for more than fourteen years. This has been central in building the consensus that has allowed the UK to become a world leader in stem cell research.

"For without public confidence in a particular area, we cannot build a consensus. And without a consensus it is very difficult to sustain progress."

Suzi presented details of the public attitudes study towards embryo research as part of her talk. This research found:

• 73% of people believe that human embryo research can improve the quality of life of future generations with inherited diseases
• 43% of people believe the benefits of embryo research outweigh the risks (but 20% believe the risks outweigh the benefits)
• Opinion is split on the ethics of research.  41% of people believe that embryo research is ethical, while 34% of people believe embryo research is unethical
• 42% of people believe the rules governing embryo research are strong enough as they stand at present
• Openness and Honesty are most important to maintain trust in the regulatory system - followed by knowing that there is a system which will stop particular actions if there are concerns
• Politicians, religious leaders and the media are trusted by relatively few people to be involved in the regulation of fertility treatment or embryo research. While, the UK regulator is most trusted to be involved in decision making on human embryo research and provide information to the public

Full details of this research can be found in the document 'How people feel about embryo research and its regulation' available on the HFEA website. The HFEA has supplied details of the study to the Government as part of its current review of fertility legislation.

Ends

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.