Sciencewise is partnering with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) to run a large-scale dialogue to assess public opinions on reviewing the 14-day rule for human embryo research.
The public dialogue will comprise of a series of deliberative workshops held across all four nations of the UK, followed by a ‘Citizens’ Summit’ of approximately 100 people, where key themes that emerged during the workshops will be explored further. A diverse range of people will be involved, with a targeted effort made to engage specific communities and under-represented groups, including those with lived experience related to this topic, as well as community and faith groups.
The dialogue will build upon a foundational Sciencewise 2023 public dialogue on early human embryo research. It will delve deep into people’s perspectives on what the appropriate time limit for human embryo research should be and will generate insight into how people form their views on this ethically sensitive topic.
The ‘14-day rule’ is established in law under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act. It limits the time a human embryo can be cultured in UK laboratories to a maximum of 14 days.
As techniques for sustaining embryos grown in culture have advanced, research has reached a point where embryos are being destroyed at the 14-day deadline because of legal restrictions, rather than practical limitations. This has raised the question as to whether the rule is still fit-for-purpose, taking account of scientific capabilities and potential benefits, as well as societal priorities and acceptance.
In total, the public dialogue is expected to take around 8 months to complete, culminating in a final report that showcases the findings from the deliberative workshops and Citizens’ Summit.
The new partnership follows on from a previous collaboration on a public dialogue on the use of genome editing in farmed animals. This was used by policymakers to help inform the development of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
You can read more about the project here: https://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/project/reviewing-the-14-day-rule-for-human-embryo-research/
As always Sciencewise will publish details of the projects as it progresses on our website and social media.
