UK on verge of "cybrid" embryo research & development decisions
This article was originally published in Clinica
On September 5, as Clinica went to press, the board of the UK's Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) was holding an open meeting to decide on the results of its scientific review and public consultation on regarding research involving human-animal cytoplasmic hybrid - "cybrid" - embryos.
But the international media that converged on London expecting to hear the last word on the potential to hugely increase access to "human" embryonic stem cells - may be disappointed. Several days before the meeting, they were already pre-empting a positive ruling.
The verdict will be only an "in principle decision", a spokesperson told Clinica, adding that "the issues behind a 'yes' or a 'no' are, in any case, extremely complex". Even if the result is a "yes" to the two stem cell research licence applications that have triggered months of intense scientific, parliamentary and public debate (see Clinica No 1240, p 2), such an approval would still await a further re-examination of the project proposals.
Neither must the possible "no" be seen as a full-stop to the technology's progress: the HFEA's horizon-scanning committee is, Clinica is reassured, actively monitoring international developments and trends in this area. The HFEA will be sensitive to the intense criticism, triggered by the hybrid embryo debate, of its actual capacity to regulate medical technology advances within the existing legislation.
As a result, whichever the ruling, these developments continue to sandwich the HFEA between the lay public's sensitivities and scientific advancement, thereby making this a test case of the very speed of medtech progress.