Response to HFEA licence to Newcastle Fertility Centre

In response to the announcement today that a licence has been granted to Newcastle Fertility Centre to use the Pronuclear Transfer technique in treatment, Hugh Whittall Director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics said:

“This is an important step forward for families at risk of passing on severe mitochondrial disorders. We are pleased to note that the licensing of this treatment reflects the recommendations of our 2012 report which concluded that if this treatment proceeds it should be carried out in a research environment with documented processes for long-term monitoring of children born as a result. It is also important that this is taking place within the strong regulatory framework that we have in the UK.”

Find out more about the Council's work on mitochondrial DNA disorders.

Contact the press office:

Shaun Griffin

Communications Manager

sgriffin@nuffieldbioethics.org

Tel: +44 (0)20 7681 9619 / Out of hours: 07551 159 670