Open letter to MPs from Medical Research Organisations

Dr Mark Walport, Wellcome Trust, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council, and Professor Martin Bobrow, Chair of the Academy of Medical Sciences Working Group on ‘Inter-species Embryos urge MP’s to reject amendments to the Bill which ban research on ‘hybrid’ embryos.
For more information see here: Open letter to MPs
 

Clinical trials with human embryonic stem cells possible in 18 months to 3 years

Leading scientists, Pete Coffey and Stephen Minger, respond to questions raised in Parliament on how long it will be before we will see clinical trials with human embryonic stem cells.
For more details see: Embryonic Stem Cell Clinical Trials

Prof Peter Braudie and Dr Ruth Warwick comment on the concept of ’saviour siblings’

Peter braudie and Ruth Warwick, fertility experts, explain the science behind so-called ’saviour siblings’. They provide background information about its use.
See here: Saviour Siblings

British Medical Association supports embryo testing and ’saviour siblings’

The BMA supports the testing of embryos for pre-implantation genetic screening and diagnosis, pre-implantation sex selection for medical reasons, tissue typing, and paternity/maternity testing. They also support the inclusion of a regulatory-making power in the Bill which would enable Parliament to add new types of testing not yet envisaged in the future.
For more information see: [...]

British Medical Association supports for embryo research

The BMA strongly supports the use of human embryos in research subject to statutory controls. They belive that regulation through the HFEA licencing and inspection regime has worked well since 1991 and has helped to maintain public confidence in such research.
For more information see the latest BMA briefing here: BMA Briefing Embryo Research

Science Media Centre produce guide to Embryonic stem cells and human admixed embryos

The Science Media centre have produced two guides explaining the science behaind parts of the Bill. The two guides, one on the four types of human admixed embryos and one on embryonic stem cells, provide a celar and understandable explanation of the science.
The guides can be downloaded here: ES Cells & Human Admixed Embryos

Leading scientists and clinicians at the North East England Stem Cell Institute support the provision for use of human admixed embryos

Leading scientists and clinicians want the Bill to protect the possibility of conducting research into serious disease. Research using human admixed embryos could help to gain a better understanding of disease. They also welcome the safeguards that have been established for this type of research. A brief background to the science given.
See here for more [...]

Scientists and clinicians at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) call for an amendment to the HFE Bill to allow for the possibility of using in vitro derived gametes in infertility treatment

The scientists warn that leaving the Bill unamended in the Commons would exclude the possibility of using IVD gametes in treating infertility. They say that an amendment as moved in the House of Lords would allow for the possibility of treatment under a regime of continual regulatory oversight.
See here for more details NESCI Brief on [...]

Scientists advise that decisions about whether to introduce mitochondrial transplantation into treatment should be at the discretion of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Scientists argue that decisions on the use of mitochondrial transtplantaion in clinical practice should be dealt with in the same manner as other new clinical treatments involving embryos and gametes. It should be at the discretion of the HFEA to grant a licence for such treatments.
See here for more details NESCI Brief on 2008 HFE Bill [...]