Human embryo models: the importance of national policy and governance review

Amy L Foreman; Kathleen Liddell; Sarah Franklin; Emily Jackson; Christina Rozeik; Kathy K Niakan

doi:10.1016/j.gde.2023.102103

Human embryo models: the importance of national policy and governance review

Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2023 Oct:82:102103. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102103. Epub 2023 Aug 22.

Authors

Amy L Foreman¹, Kathleen Liddell², Sarah Franklin³, Emily Jackson⁴, Christina Rozeik⁵, Kathy K Niakan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Wellcome Trust, CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
² The Faculty of Law, The David Williams Building, 10 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DZ, UK; Cambridge Reproduction, University of Cambridge, Physiology Building, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. Electronic address: k.liddell@law.cam.ac.uk.
³ Cambridge Reproduction, University of Cambridge, Physiology Building, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1SB, UK. Electronic address: sbf25@cam.ac.uk.
⁴ London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK. Electronic address: e.jackson@lse.ac.uk.
⁵ Cambridge Reproduction, University of Cambridge, Physiology Building, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
⁶ Cambridge Reproduction, University of Cambridge, Physiology Building, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; The Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Human Embryo and Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK; Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK. Electronic address: kkn21@cam.ac.uk.

PMID: 37619506
DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102103

Abstract

Integrated and non-integrated stem cell-based embryo models are becoming widely adopted tools in biomedical research with distinct advantages over animal models for studying human development. Although SCB-EMs have tremendous benefits for research, they raise a number of social, ethical and legal questions that affect future research and widespread adoption in industry and clinical settings. The 2021 International Society for Stem Cell Research Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation provide helpful guidance on many of these issues but do not have force in domestic law. Careful appraisal and development of national legal and ethical frameworks is crucial. Paving the way to better regulation provides an ethical and social foundation to continue using human embryo models and to fully realise their potential benefits for reproductive medicine.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biomedical Research*
Embryo, Mammalian
Humans
Policy
Stem Cells

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding