Memorandum 41
Submission from the Academy of Medical
Sciences
Following the publication of the Government's
Command Paper "Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Act: Proposals for revised legislation", the Academy
of Medical Sciences has been consulting within its Fellowship
on the issue of research on embryos involving both animal and
human material.
The Academy has now convened a working group,
chaired by Professor Martin Bobrow CBE FRS FMedSci, to consider
this issue directly. In addition to examining definitions of hybrid
and chimera embryos, this group will identify key research opportunities
in the field, together with an assessment of how these opportunities
are balanced by safety and ethical concerns. Following an initial
meeting in early March, the working group will publish its output
later in the Spring. Representatives from the Wellcome Trust and
Medical Research Council will attend the working group meetings
as observers.
Unfortunately, the Academy is therefore unable
to submit substantial evidence to the current Select Committee
Inquiry. However, we would direct the Committee to our response
to the 2005 Department of Health consultation on the Human Fertilisation
& Embryology Act.
January 2007
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