§ Jim DobbinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an application for a licence to create human embryos by cell nuclear replacement has been submitted to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [169473]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFrom 7 May 2004, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) will publish the titles and lay summaries of research licence applications on its website.
The HFEA has received one application for a licence to create human embryos by cell nuclear replacement. The title and lay summary are as follows:
Title—Derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines using nuclear transfer and parthenogenically activated oocytes.Centre—Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life.Lay summary—It is recognised that human embryonic stem cells offer a great potential for therapies for many diseases such as diabetes. These stem cells are derived from embryos which are created for in-vitro fertilisation treatment, but which are not suitable for treatment. If stem cell treatments are to reach their full potential we need to derive stem cell lines which are genetically similar to the recipient so they will not be rejected. This may require the application of techniques such as nuclear transfer and parthenogenic activation. Nuclear transfer involves the transfer of genetic material from adult skin cells to eggs which have had the cell's nucleus removed. Parthenogenic activation involves an egg being artificially stimulated by chemical or electronic means in order to make the egg start embryo development. The present application is to undertake some of the initial studies that are needed to understand methods that will develop this technology.