HFEA must support hybrid-embryo research

1.09.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Sep 2007

In advance of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) meeting this week, Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, and who has co-ordinated the campaign of scientists and ethicists to permit hybrid embryo research, said:

"Following the clear expression of scientific and parliamentary opinion in support, the HFEA must not, at their meeting this week, stand in the way of their research license committees granting permission for some of our top scientists to continue their world-leading medical research using hybrid embryos."

"The all-party science and technology committee unanimously concluded that there was significant potential value in these research techniques, especially given the shortage of human eggs, and that there was no rational basis for the Government or the HFEA to ban experiments on hybrid embryos which we allow on human embryos."

"If, as expected, the Government's own regulator supports this research then that would be a final blow to the Government's policy of an irrational, anti-scientific partial ban on hybrid-embryo research."