News and blogs

Michael J. Reiss, member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Professor of Science Education at UCL and a Priest in the Church of England, reflects on research that aims to develop the tools needed to synthesise a human genome.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) is set to establish a network to foster knowledge exchange and co-develop ethical resources and guidance for those working in genomics across the UK.

A new report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) urges caution over the use of polygenic indices (PGI) data to inform educational policy and practice. We suggest next steps for policymakers and researchers considering the ethical acceptability of applying PGI research in these settings.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Nuffield Foundation have published an overview of scientific developments in genomics and education. We urge caution over the use of polygenic indices (PGIs) as predictive tools in educational contexts, highlighting areas where further research and ethical scrutiny is needed to assess the implications of translating PGIs into policy and practice.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB), working in partnership with the Ada Lovelace Institute has published a report warning of the risks to population health and people’s privacy if the NHS was to roll out AI-powered genomic health prediction (AIGHP) technology too soon.

Through mapping existing ethical guidance available to those working in UK-based genomic research and healthcare, we have identified gaps in guidance that need addressing in a coordinated way.

Together with the Ada Lovelace Institute we have published a report highlighting the pressing ethical, legal and social questions surrounding the convergence of AI and genomics.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics publishes findings on how to develop a UK best practice approach for ethics in genomics healthcare and research.

NCOB Director Danielle Hamm reports back from the National Ethics Councils Forum in Stockholm.

Peter Mills, Associate Director at the NCOB, takes a look at the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and explores what it means for the future of farmed food in England.

The Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing took place in London last week, on 6-8 March 2023. Pete Mills, Associate Director at NCOB, reflects on this year’s summit – which focused on therapeutic uses of somatic genome editing.

Frances Flinter – Council Member and Emeritus Professor of Clinical Genetics at Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust – talks us through some important issues to consider in relation to the introduction of whole genome sequencing of newborn babies.