News and blogs

NCOB Chair, Professor Dave Archard, explores the ethics of synthetic embryos following the recent announcement that scientists have successfully created ‘embryo models’ (sometimes called ‘synthetic’ human embryos) using single living stem cells.

Ranveig Svenning Berg explores the topic of surrogacy in the UK, following proposals published in March, for reforms to the current laws.

New BBC drama will portray a family’s legal battle over their daughter’s medical care.

NCOB Director Danielle Hamm reports back from the National Ethics Councils Forum in Stockholm.

To inform our discussions about the disagreements that can arise in the care of critically ill children, we commissioned a review of the literature and evidence relating to this area.

It has been reported in the media that a small number of babies have been born in the UK following the use of mitochondrial DNA transfer techniques.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Cunningham-Burley as the incoming Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB).

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) is calling for action to embed an ethical approach that places the diversity, values, and agency of older adults at the heart of all research and innovation related to ageing.

Peter Mills, Associate Director at the NCOB, takes a look at the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and explores what it means for the future of farmed food in England.

The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission have published their joint proposals for a new law and system to govern surrogacy in the UK.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ new policy briefing suggests that an update to the current law on surrogacy in the UK is needed to help provide better support and protection to surrogates, surrogate children, and their families.

The Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing took place in London last week, on 6-8 March 2023. Pete Mills, Associate Director at NCOB, reflects on this year’s summit – which focused on therapeutic uses of somatic genome editing.