October 8, 2007

scientists react on Government’s response to the Joint Committee on Human Tissue and Embryos (draft) Bill

The Government’s announcement means that research with human-animal hybrid embryos will now be allowed, and the proposed merging of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority will not go ahead.

Professor Christopher Shaw, Professor of Neurology and Head Of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, said:

“This is excellent news. In its decision to regulate, rather than prohibit, the use of hybrid embryos in medical research the government has shown it has heard the voices of patients, scientists and the public. I hope that this work will lead to new insights into disease mechanisms and novel treatments. I anticipate that the hybrid controversy will fade as it did for heart transplantation.”

Dr Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said:

“The award of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Martin Evans and colleagues signals the strength of the UK in embryo and stem cell research. It is therefore timely that Government has now taken on board the concerns of the scientific community in its response to the Joint Committee Report. It is essential that the UK’s research strengths in these areas are able to flourish within an appropriate regulatory and ethical framework, in order to deliver health improvements in the future.”

Professor Martin Bobrow FRS FMedSci, Chair of the Academy of Medical Science’s working party on inter-species embryos, said:

“We welcome the pledge that provisions in the forthcoming legislation will explicitly permit research into all types of inter-species embryo, including cytoplasmic hybrid and true hybrid embryos, which could lead to new tools for understanding human embryonic stem cells and ultimately generate better treatments for disease.

“We have always maintained that there are no substantive ethical or moral reasons not to proceed with research on human embryos containing animal material under the current framework of regulatory control. We are please to see that the Government has accepted this position.

“These measures, when accepted by Parliament, will allow the UK to capitalise on its strength in embryo and stem cell research and lead the world in exciting new technologies.

“While this legislation covers research involving human embryos, regulatory questions are likely to arise from research involving non-human embryos and animals that incorporate human material. Current UK activity in this area is adequately covered by existing Home Office regulation of animal research. However, we must consider the future conceptual and regulatory framework for transgenic and chimeric animals that contain significant amounts of human genetic material.

“The Academy is committed to taking forward a programme of scientific and public engagement to ensure that the methods and goals of this research are clearly communicated and that science progresses with the support of society.”

Dr Lyle Armstrong, Institute Of Human Genetics, Newcastle University at the International Centre For Life, said:

“It is very encouraging to hear that the Government recommends that the HFEA will be responsible for regulating the creation of hybrid embryos for research purposes since they have the experience and knowledge to make informed decisions and consider the research objectively. The recommendation that the creation of other types of hybrid embryos be allowed subject to suitable regulation is of benefit to many scientists and the government’s response suggests that they recognise the potential of this type of research.”

Dr Simon Fishel, Managing Director, CARE Fertility Group, said:

“I am delighted that the Government has listened to fertility experts who have expressed the view that new regulatory bodies would set us back rather than take us forward. Modifying the current HFEA in line with the professional bodies involved is the way to regulate UVF in the modern era.”

A spokesperson from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said:

“The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is pleased that the Department of Health on reflection and on the advice of the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee has decided not to pursue the idea of a full merger of the HFEA and the HTA. This will still allow some efficiencies of both bodies working in harmony together, but will also allow the particular expertise of each to be retained.”