Public open to doubling of 14-day limit on embryo research

A new dialogue report shows backing from members of the public for the extension of the 14-day limit on human embryo research.

The public dialogue was co-funded by the Human Developmental Biology Initiative and Sciencewise. It aimed to learn more about public views of embryo research and particularly the '14-day rule', which limits the time for which scientists are permitted to culture human embryos. Many participants supported some form of extension to the rule, for reasons including potential improvement of IVF success rates, reduction of multiple miscarriages, and better understanding of of serious health conditions.

'We have learnt a lot about human development before 14 days, but there are areas of investigation that could change how we understand development, and associated diseases, that lie beyond our current window of knowledge,' said Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, co-chair of the oversight group for the public dialogue and head of the Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics at the Francis Crick Institute, London.

'Despite low awareness of current laws, members of the public quickly recognised many of the critical issues researchers are keenly aware of when it comes to growing embryos beyond the current limit. This dialogue also reinforces the fact that the public are in support of research that will yield better health outcomes, and in this case, increase the success of IVF procedures,' he added.

In the UK, the 14-day rule was enshrined in law by the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, and prohibits the culturing of embryos for research purposes for longer than 14 days after fertilisation. There have been calls from scientists for an extension to this limit, and in 2021, the International Society for Stem Cell Research described a scenario in which 'a specialised scientific and ethical oversight process could weigh whether the scientific objectives necessitate and justify the time in culture beyond 14 days' (see BioNews 1097).

The public dialogue involved 70 participants who had a range of levels of awareness, as well as mixed views on human embryo research. They engaged in more than 15 hours of activities including webinars and workshops, discussing current perspectives and near-future developments with scientists, ethicists and policymakers while also considering moral, societal and religious implications.

The participants raised concerns around eugenics and genetic engineering, with a fear that enhanced techniques could lead to a desire to create 'perfect' humans. However, many participants agreed that if robust regulation and societal expectations were maintained, an extension to the 14-day rule should be supported to achieve beneficial outcomes for health and fertility.

'Embryo culture beyond 14 days is the only way to improve our understanding of certain aspects of early development and organ formation, and thereby find new ways of addressing pregnancy loss and disease,' said Sarah Norcross, director of PET (the Progress Educational Trust). 'Following this important public dialogue, a wider conversation now needs to be had, about whether the 14-day-limit should be extended.'

Those who conducted and contributed to the public dialogue hope that it will be used to inform future public engagement, policy decisions and reviews around the regulation of human embryo research, while ensuring that research continues to be carried out responsibly, transparently and with societal consent.