October

2005-10-20: The HFEA has received several enquires requesting further details regarding the Authority's decision to approve research of mitochondrial DNA disorders (research licence R0153) by Newcastle Fertility Centre at LIFE.

As a result, the HFEA has published an extended summary of the proposed research and a document explaining how the decision to licence this research was made.

2005-10-31: The recent appeal hearing involving Newcastle Centre at LIFE was the first held by the HFEA relating to the award of a research licence. Since January 2000, there have been two other instances where licensing decisions have been challenged and then resolved by an appeal hearing with legal representation on both sides. In each case, challenges to conditions placed on treatment licences were upheld.