Jonathan Montgomery appointed Chair of the Council

25 January 2012

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jonathan Montgomery as the new Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Jonathan is Professor of Health Care Law at the University of Southampton and Chair of Hampshire Primary Care Trust. Jonathan will begin his 5-year term on 12 March 2012.

Call for evidence on mitochondrial donation

19 January 2012

The Council has launched a call for evidence on the ethical issues raised by techniques to prevent the transmission of inherited mitochondrial disorders.       

Professor David Price: 1954–2012

18 January 2012

The Council was saddened and shocked to hear that Professor David Price died on 3 January 2012.

Box Office Bioethics: judging panel confirmed

10 January 2012

We are delighted to announce the panel of judges for the inaugural year of the Council’s student film competition, Box Office Bioethics.

The panel will include three Council members and three special guest judges.

Council members

Dr Rhona Knight

Prime Minister commends the Council on its 20th anniversary

19 December 2011

Prime Minister David Cameron has commended the Council on the reputation it has established over the past two decades for undertaking rigorous examination of topical, and sometimes controversial, subjects using the best expertise available.

In a letter to the Council on its 20th anniversary, Mr Cameron says:

Report of global health symposium

13 December 2011

A detailed report of the Council’s 20^th anniversary symposium ‘Global health: responsibility, ethics and policy’ has been published.

At the symposium, which took place on 22 June 2011, speakers from around the globe discussed topics such as ethics and responsibility in global health, non-communicable diseases, the role of emerging biotechnologies in global health, and social determinants of health.

New teaching resources on the ethics of biofuels

1 December 2011

The Council has published a set of teaching resources based on its 2011 report Biofuels: ethical issues.

This set of resources aims to introduce students to the advantages and disadvantages of different types of biofuels that are being produced as alternative renewable sources of energy for transport.

Activities include case studies and a role play exercise to explore the various motivations that are driving the biofuels industry in different countries, and the possible impact that biofuels can have on people’s everyday lives.

‘Solidarity’ could provide policy solutions, says new report

Press Release

30 November 2011

What do research biobanks, Twitter and the NHS have in common? All involve people who are showing solidarity with others. And thinking about how solidarity plays a role in our society can offer solutions to policy making, concludes a new report published today. For example, Twitter and other social media could be used more systematically to track the spread of disease and share information during flu pandemics. And participation agreements for research biobanks should be revised to make biobanks more efficient in working towards improving health.

Council comments on Renewable Energy Directive proposals

29 November 2011

The EC Renewable Energy Directive (RED), adopted in April 2009, requires that 10 percent of transport fuel comes from renewable sources by 2020. The UK Government proposes to implement the transport elements of the RED by amending in December 2011 the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which sets biofuels targets up to April 2013.

New Working Party on novel neurotechnologies

18 November 2011

The Council has set up a new Working Party to consider the ethical issues raised by novel neurotechnologies that intervene in the brain such as deep brain stimulation, brain-computer interfaces and neuron replacement therapy.

This project aims to identify and explore the key ethical issues that are relevant to technologies at the early stages of translation from the laboratory to practical use.