Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB)

We're #recruiting! 📢

We are looking for new Council members across a range of disciplines and sectors to contribute to the NCOB’s work.

Find out more here:🔗 bit.ly/44Xz5g7

Applications close on Friday 19 September⏱️

#makingethicsmatter

Strategic Review | About | Nuffield Foundation In uncertain times, the Nuffield Foundation's strategic review renews our commitment to prosperity, inclusiveness, and fairness and a strategy focused on the complex challenges shaping lives in the UK today.

Can your research move us toward a fairer, more inclusive and prosperous society? Explore our priority themes, and learn more about our Strategic Fund 👇

Read our Strategic Review: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/about/strate...

𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬! 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 £𝟏𝟓𝟎𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊’𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

In response to global and domestic pressures, our 5 focus questions prioritise prosperity, inclusion and fairness as we renew our aim to improve lives through research & innovation👇🧵

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) research is moving at pace, raising ethical questions that need proactive consideration.

In a joint report with The Future of Human Reproduction, we identify key ethical & policy considerations to inform any future regulation of lab-grown eggs and sperm.

bit.ly/40CcJhE

Novel techniques for the prevention of mitochondrial DNA disorders: an ethical review - Nuffield Council on Bioethics This report examines the ethical issues raised by new techniques that aim to prevent the transmission of maternally-inherited mitochondrial DNA disorders.

Read our ethical review here: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/publication/...

Wonderful to see news that babies born as a result of innovative mitochondrial DNA techniques are free from hereditary disease: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our 2012 ethical review has been instrumental in creating regulation for this treatment to reach the clinic and change lives for the better.

As part of our mission to #makeethicsmatter, we use horizon scanning & foresight methods to anticipate where developments in #biomedicine & #health have the potential to impact society.

Have a look at our Horizon Scan which displays these topics of interest within time frames: bit.ly/NCOBHS2024.

Life as we know it? - Nuffield Council on Bioethics 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 t...

Last week saw the widely reported announcement of SynHG – a major new research project exploring the synthesis of human genomes.

What could this mean for 'Life as we know it'? 💭

Our Council Member Michael Reiss shares thoughts in this new blog ➡️ bit.ly/Life-as-we-k...

#ethics #genetics #synHG

Should this lab-grown burger really be served in restaurants? Lab-grown beef, chicken and even quail are served in restaurants in some countries around the world - and now some cultivated meats could soon be sold in the UK too

Nice to see this article get into some ethical issues regarding cultured meat: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our 2020 ethics briefing noted increasing no.s of people willing to try plant-based / cultured meat, amidst calls for transparent labelling & regulatory preparedness.
See: ➡️ bit.ly/44gK4zD

Image of an expert panel at a Royal Society event to discuss their new report on disability technology. A screen behind them shows the title and subtitle of the report.

Great to be at the @royalsociety.org for the launch of their new report on disability technology. Many great speakers, and lots to be learned about making sure experiences of disability are centralised in design and implementation of assistive tech #disabilitytech

The Citizens Jury: A group of adults sit in a classroom-style setting, some reading papers while others interact. A woman at the front collects a vote from a seated man. Flipcharts with notes are visible in the background.

MPs vote today on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Our Citizens’ Jury on assisted dying shone a light on people’s priorities, whether the law changes or not.

We hope those voting today find our evidence & insights on UK public views on assisted dying helpful.

bit.ly/assisted-dyi...

Tackling social challenges needs evidence-led research. In our 2024 annual report discover how the Foundation supported our expert centres @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social @nuffieldbioethics.bsky.social & UK grant-holders with a charitable spend of £28.4m.

ow.ly/E9NS50WaI3J

📢 New blog post!

@emmacave.bsky.social, Chair of the NCOB's working group on stem cell-based embryo models, reflects on our recent #policy roundtable and explores next steps for #SCBEM regulation in the UK.

Read it here:🔗➡️https://bit.ly/SCBEM-regulation-blog

#regulation #makingethicsmatter

Dr Rob Smith, Project Lead at the University of Edinburgh has said: "Our project is taking a proactive approach to work alongside scientists, policymakers, and the public to co-develop governance frameworks that can guide responsible innovation from the outset. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has long been a leader in thinking about the place of synthetic biotechnology in society. I'm excited to be working with them".

We are excited to announce that we are working with @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social and other research groups on a project funded by @aria-research.bsky.social Synthetic Plants programme, to co-design future governance frameworks for #synthetic #plant genomics.
Read our news story here:🔗 lnkd.in/gJAgtaub

A woman with short blond hair and glasses, wearing a white shirt and dark vest, stands next to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics logo. Below is a quote on supporting ethics in genomics research by Sarah Cunningham-Burley.

We are pleased to announce we are working with @genomicsengland.bsky.social, Our Future Health, @ukbiobank.bsky.social and @sangerinstitute.bsky.social to create a new genomics ethics network, shaped by the needs of the #genomics community.🧬

Find out more:➡️https://bit.ly/NCOB_Genomics

We were delighted to welcome members of the @nuffieldbioethics.bsky.social and the French Comité Consultatif National d’Éthique pour les sciences de la vie et de la santé (C.C.N.E.) for the annual trilateral meeting last Friday in Berlin. 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 Thank you for the open and insightful exchange!

A smiling woman stands against a purple background with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics logo and a quote from Danielle Hamm about reflecting public values in human embryo research policies.

We are pleased to announce a partnership with @sciencewise.bsky.social on a public dialogue exploring views on the '14-day rule' for human embryo research.

The dialogue will provide policymakers with much-needed insights on this underexplored topic.

➡️ bit.ly/44MeuM7

📢 We are hiring!

We are looking for a Genomics Network Manager to establish and lead the coordination of a new #genomics network of stakeholders to help shape the future of genomic #research and healthcare.

Find out more about the role and how to #apply here:🔗 bit.ly/ncob-work-wi...

Scotland’s Proposal for Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Join this expert panel discussion about the rhetoric and realities of assisted dying.

Panel event TODAY to discuss assisted dying - 6-7pm @uofglasgow.bsky.social and online

Hearing from @nuffieldtrust.bsky.social and @nuffieldbioethics.bsky.social on their respective research findings

Scotland’s Proposal for Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotlands-...

We have two exciting #new #opportunities!

✨Independent Chair of the Membership Committee
✨Expert Appointment to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Horizon Scanning Advisory Group

Find out more about the roles and how to #apply here: ➡️🔗 bit.ly/ncob-work-wi...

A purple graphic with black abstract lines features a quote about a project providing evidence on public views regarding legal changes to permit assisted dying, and considerations for related legislation. Text: Independent evaluation report, May 2025.

Ahead of UK & Scottish Parliament debates on #assisteddying next week, we've briefed decision-makers with findings from our work exploring public views on this issue.

We've also published an evaluation of our project which aimed to provide independent, robust evidence & insights:
lnkd.in/eKzuCb9G

We are pleased to announce that Professor Sarah Devaney has been appointed as Chair of the working group for our project reviewing the 14-day rule for human #embryo #research.

Find out more about the project and working group members here: ➡️🔗 bit.ly/14-day-rule-...

Nuffield Council on Bioethics raises ethical concerns about the use of polygenic indices as predictors in education - Nuffield Council on Bioethics 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 ...

📣New report!

Our summary report sets out the key #ethical themes and practical considerations identified during our workshop exploring the use of #genomic data in #education.

🔗 bit.ly/genomics-edu...

📣New blog post!

Amy Wilkinson, PhD student at @babrahaminst.bsky.social, reflects on her secondment at the NCOB and discusses takeaways from our recent workshop exploring #epigenetics.

Read it here: ➡️ bit.ly/epigenetics-...

Hello Bluesky!

We're an independent #policy & #research centre that identifies, analyses & advises on #ethical issues in #biomedicine & #health to benefit people and #society.

Find out more: www.nuffieldbioethics.org

Sign up for our monthly email newsletter: bit.ly/NCOB_news

#makingethicsmatter