Current project
Introduction
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) is undertaking a project to explore the current and future ethical, scientific, social, and policy considerations related to the 14-day rule for human embryo culture, with the aim of informing UK legislative reform. The project activities will take place across four phases. Short outputs will be produced at the end of each phase, culminating in a summary report.
- Phase 1: Review of the short-, medium- and long-term potential of the science of human embryo research, including future scenario mapping (March-July 2025).
- Phase 2: Review of the ethics of human embryo research, including future scenario mapping (May-October 2025).
- Phase 3: UK-based deliberative dialogue to understand public views and values surrounding human embryo research and its limits (July 2025- May 2026).
- Phase 4: Multi-disciplinary Working Group to review evidence gathered in phases 1-3; and to deliberate and appraise different policy options, taking into account trade-offs, stakeholder and public attitudes, and the international research landscape (January-June/July 2026).
This work forms part of the NCOB’s wider priority area on Reproduction, Parenthood and Families. This will be the second major project carried out under this area since its establishment under NCOB’s 2024-2028 strategy, following the delivery of a report reviewing stem cell-based embryo models in November 2024.
The Working Group will, over the course of the project, steer the evidence gathering process, and discuss and deliberate on findings with the aim of producing a consensus report around a roadmap of the most appropriate options for UK policy in this area.
Project aim
We aim to deliver a robust, independent body of evidence to key decision makers on possible policy and regulatory options for the future of embryo research, informed by appraisal of different policy options for the future of the 14-day rule, considering scientific capabilities, ethics, and diverse public views and values.
Specific project aims
These aims reflect the commitments made in the funding bid for this project.
Phase 1 (P1): exploring the science, its potential and its impact
Aim: The balancing of ethical issues/concerns in part depends on an understanding of scientific capabilities. This phase will take a multi-method approach to reviewing the current state of the science and its future potential.
Phase 2 (P2): framing the ethical issues in today’s context
Aim: Building on P1, we will engage with a diverse range of views nationally and internationally to identify and provide an overview of relevant ethical issues in a balanced way (taking account of the wider social, legal and regulatory as well as practical/clinical issues relevant to embryo research). The outputs in this phase will inform public dialogue activities in P3.
Phase 3 (P3): public deliberation – understanding UK values and views
Aim: Explore UK public views and values on the 14-day rule, the associated options and ethical questions, and provide key insights on how the public reaches those views.
Phase 4 (P4): providing a road map for policy makers
Aim: During this phase will Working Group will review and appraise evidence gathered in P1-3.