Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 19 June (WA 48), whether the Person Responsible and the Nominal Licencee for research licence R0152 had indicated that induced pluripotent stem cells were unlikely to provide a cure for diseases associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations; and if so, why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority had not previously evaluated the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer as an alternative prior to renewing that licence or as part of its consultation on mitochondrial replacement.[HL1114]
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that in September 2009 the Person Responsible, for research licence R0152, indicated that induced pluripotent stem cells were unlikely to provide a cure for diseases associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations.
The HFEA has also advised that research licence R0152 was renewed in 2011. This decision was taken by its Research Licence Committee on 18 May 2011. The minutes of that meeting, setting out the Committee's reasoning, are available on the Authority's website at:
http://guide.hfea.gov.uk/guide/ShowPDF.aspx? ID=412&merge=l