March 20, 2013

results of the HFEA public consultation – Medical Frontiers: Debating Mitochondria Replacement

At the request of Government, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently carried out a public consultation on new IVF-based treatments to avoid mitochondrial disease. The consultation, which closed in December 2012, used a number of different methods to gather a wide range of public and professional views about mitochondria replacement and whether it should be made available to patients in the UK.

The outcomes of the consultation were announced at this briefing, giving an overview of the public views expressed and a scientific update on the efficacy and safety of the mitochondria replacement techniques (Maternal Spindle Transfer and Pronuclear Transfer).

Speakers:

Professor Neva Haites, Chair of the expert group overseeing the consultation, Chair of the panel which produced the scientific report and former HFEA Authority Member.

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, member of the expert group overseeing the consultation and member of the panel which produced the scientific report

Juliet Tizzard, Head of Policy and Communications, HFEA.

Hannah Darby, Senior Policy Manager, HFEA.