A Nuffield Council on Bioethics working group, including Lancaster University Distinguished Professor of Bioethics Stephen Wilkinson, calls for a new governance framework for stem cell-based embryo models, one that that encourages innovation whilst upholding ethical standards and ensuring public benefit.
At present, there is no dedicated UK legal or regulatory framework for stem cell-based embryo model (SCBEM) research. This poses ethical risks concerning SCBEM development, how they can potentially be used for public benefit, and research practices.
SCBEM is an umbrella term for a range of small, three-dimensional structures created from stem cells that model stages, processes, and/or features of embryonic development. These models could help us better understand human development, identify therapeutic interventions, and explore factors related to pregnancy loss, miscarriages, and improving IVF outcomes.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) recommends that a governance framework to facilitate and oversee scientific progress in this area of research is established, ensuring that high ethical standards are upheld and public interests reflected.
This recommendation and a framework arise from a review conducted by an expert interdisciplinary working group convened by NCOB in March 2024. The group's aim was to provide credible, well-informed analysis and robust, evidence-based recommendations for governing research involving human stem cell-based embryo models in the UK.
Stephen Wilkinson, Distinguished Professor at Lancaster University, principal investigator of the Future of Human Reproduction project, and member of the working group, says: "This is a timely report, given recent advances in the science of SCBEMs. Clear and informed debate about the ethical and regulatory status of these entities and the ways in which they might be used is vitally important for policymakers, the scientific community, and the public. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics review makes an important positive contribution to facilitating such debate."
