Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 10 February 2009 (WA 176), whether they consider that embryoid bodies have the three-dimensional organisation of an embryo to a greater or lesser extent than outgrowing human embryos cultured beyond 14 days; what assessment the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has made regarding the regulation of embryoid bodies in the light of recent research reporting their potential to form a three-dimensional cerebral cortex in culture (Lancaster et al, Nature 501, pp 373–9); and what further regulatory impact they plan on the basis of those findings for prolonged culture of outgrowing human embryos.[HL2237]
Answer
On questions of this sort the Department would seek the advice of the national regulatory body for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The HFEA has advised that it has not formally considered this question.
The HFEA has also advised that the Authority has not yet considered the recent research article on embryoid bodies to which the noble Lord refers but that the article will be brought to the attention of its Scientific & Clinical Advances Advisory Committee at one of its future meetings.