UK delays hybrid embryo decision

Britain's embryology regulator said on Thursday (January 11) it was going to delay making any decisions on whether scientists could do research on human-animal hybrid embryos until autumn, giving it time to conduct a thorough public consultation on the topic.

The decision was met with relief by researchers who had feared that the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) might bow to government pressure and ban the technology.

"Overall, it's a lot better than we might have had," said Lyle Armstrong from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, whose team is seeking permission to use animal cells to help generate human embryonic stem cells.

"Obviously it's a bit disappointing that there is a delay in our application," he told The Scientist, "but at least a public consultation gives us a chance to explain why we want to do this work and what the science is all about."

In a carefully worded statement, HFEA chair Angela McNab said there was nothing in current legislation that would prohibit the research and that it might be within the authority's remit to regulate.

Back in 2004, a similar issue arose when Cambridge researchers combined human nuclei with frog eggs. At the time, the HFEA asked for clarification of its role in regulating this kind of research when the 1990 Human Fertilization and Embryology Act was updated. Since then, an HFEA spokeswoman said, no other UK researchers have done anything similar, although scientists in the US and China have.

McNab said that allowing the creation of human-animal hybrids would be a significant change in UK science, so the HFEA wanted to have a full public debate and consultation before any applications were considered.

"From the evidence considered so far this issue is far from black and white," she said. "There is not clear agreement within the scientific community about the need for and benefits of this science. The Authority felt that it is important that we go through the issues and the science thoroughly and test the claims about the benefits of this research."

The HFEA's decision came amid controversy sparked last month when Britain's public health minister Caroline Flint released a policy document on fertility research. That White Paper recommended that animal-human hybrid embryos be banned when the HFE Act is updated in 2008.

That document left many researchers concerned. In a letter to the Times newspaper on Tuesday, 45 scientists, academics and politicians urged the HFEA to adopt a supportive position for the technology. Not to do so, they claimed, would jeopardize the UK's record in "ethical and scientifically valid research on stem cells and therapeutic cloning."

Some observers had warned that if the HFEA decided against the use of animal cells that it would be a sign of inappropriate pressure from the government. "We're really pleased that the HFEA stood up and said this is our decision and didn't kow-tow to the government," said Stephen Minger, a stem cell researcher from King's College London whose group is also seeking a license for this type of work.

Meanwhile, the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, a group of lawmakers from across Party lines, has announced it will hold its own enquiry into the issue. It is expected to report before the anticipated publication of the Government's draft Human Fertility and Embryology Bill in March.

Stephen Pincock
spincock@the-scientist.com

Links within this article:

S. Pincock, "UK fights over nat'l stem cell network," The Scientist, July 7, 2006.
http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/23877/

Lyle Armstrong
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ihg/staff/profile/lyle.armstrong

S. Pincock, "UK hybrid loophole exposed," The Scientist, June 2, 2004.
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22210/

Human Fertilization and Embryology Act 1990
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900037_en_1.htm

White Paper
http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/14/13/15/04141315.pdf

J. Savalescu, et al, "Stemming studies," Times Online, January 9, 2007.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2538977,00.html

Stephen Minger
https://access.kcl.clientarea.net/schools/biohealth/research/wolfson/sminger.html

"Pressure on Government over animal-human hybrid research," Evan Harris, MP.
http://www.evanharris.org.uk/news/000081.html?PHPSESSID=0f2795b08a4b2c1d9c6ea8b99c330faa