Council to hold roundtable meetings on patenting DNA

Press Release

6 September 2000

Many companies and universities throughout the world are seeking to file patents on gene sequences and proteins. Questions remain, however, over the moral implications of protecting rights to property in this kind of way. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is holding a series of Roundtable meetings to consider the ethical and legal issues raised by this form of patenting and the implications for healthcare.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics welcomes the Chief Medical Officer's Report on Stem Cell Research

Press Release

16 August 2000

Today the Nuffield Council on Bioethics welcomed the findings of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group which reported on stem cell research.

In April 2000 the Council published a discussion paper entitled 'Stem cells: the ethical issues' and concluded that research into human stem cells had the potential to develop treatments for a variety of diseases and should be permitted with safeguards. The report of the CMO's group drew similar conclusions and proposed measures to implement such safeguards.

Experts give go-ahead for human stem cell research but safeguards needed

Press Release

6 April 2000

Research into human stem cells has the potential to develop treatments for a variety of diseases and should be permitted with safeguards says the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in a new paper Stem cell therapy: the ethical issues.