Nuffield Council on Bioethics' public dialogue on embryo research
We are pleased to announce that UOIs Dr César Palacios-Gonzáles has joined the Nuffield Council's new Public Dialogue Oversight Group. The group will oversee the public dialogue, Phase 3 of the major project to review the 14-day rule for research on human embryos.
The dialogue will seek to understand public views and values on regulatory options for human embryo research. Nuffield Council has partnered with UKRI Sciencewise to run a large-scale dialogue to assess public opinions on reviewing the 14-day rule for human embryo research.
To ensure a robust and accountable process, independent Oversight Group has been appointed - which includes Dr Palacios-Gonzáles - to oversee the public dialogue. The group will provide challenge, guidance and advice on its scope, design and delivery, and review the structure and content of the sessions to ensure that a diversity of views and voices is heard in the process.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 1990 (as amended in 2008) states that human embryos can only be cultured in a UK laboratory for a maximum of 14 days, a rule that has been adopted in many jurisdictions worldwide. However, human embryo research has advanced in recent years, its potential now raising questions around whether the 14-day time limit should be extended.
The project will explore the current and future ethical, scientific, social, and policy considerations related to the 14-day rule for human embryo research, with the aim of informing UK legislative reform. The project activities will take place across four phases, overseen and guided by a multidisciplinary working group.
Phase 1: Review of the short-, medium- and long-term potential of the science of human embryo research, including future scenario mapping.
Phase 2: Review of the ethics of human embryo research, including future scenario mapping.
Phase 3: UK-based deliberative dialogue to understand public views and values surrounding human embryo research and its limits.
Phase 4: Review of evidence gathered in phases 1-3 and deliberation of different policy options that take into account trade-offs, stakeholder and public attitudes, and the international research landscape.
UOIs Professor Katrien Devolder is also involved in the project as a member of the Working Group, which will work across all four phases to guide evidence-gathering activities and deliberate the project’s findings and conclusions.
More information on this can be found on our news item of 1 May 2025.
