Research Tissues & Ethics
Understanding human development through research with human tissue
Our research involves human embryonic and fetal tissues that are voluntarily donated to research. The tissues studied in our research fall into three main categories:
The tissues which are donated following terminations come from the Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR). This bank collects human tissues ranging from 4 to 20 weeks of development. The HDBR is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority, the UK’s regulatory authority for all research involving human tissue.
Researchers using donated human embryos, sperm and eggs are licenced by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK’s regulatory authority for all research involving human preimplantation embryos and reproductive cells.
Eggs and sperm to create embryos for research on the very earliest stages of human development
Embryos at an early stage of development that are generated for use in fertility treatment and no longer needed for family building
Embryonic and fetal tissues that are donated after a termination of pregnancy (abortion)
The UK has a strong legal and regulatory framework for research involving human embryonic and fetal tissues, and HDBI researchers work within and respect these regulations. For example, ethical review and informed consent processes are strictly followed for all tissues used in HDBI research and the research undergoes external audits and inspections by the UK regulatory authorities.
For tissues from pregnancy terminations, this means people having a termination are:
only approached with information about donation after they have made the decision to have a termination so that their decision about whether or not to terminate is not influenced by the option to donate.
given full information about the Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR; see box, above right) and have the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered.
given as much time as they need to make a decision about whether or not to donate.
Donors do not receive anything in return for their tissues and they receive the same medical care as people who decide not to donate. The donations are also anonymised so the HDBR does not receive any identifiable information about the donors.
More information can be found on the HDBR’s website here.
Combined with recent technological advances that allow advanced imaging, new molecular insights, and ex vivo maintenance of developing tissues and organs, it is now feasible and timely to make a coherent effort to understand human development.
Background Image: Human embryo at 6 days of development (Image from the Niakan lab)
Donation of early embryos, eggs and sperm is governed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) and regulated by the HFEA.
All donors are offered counselling and are provided with the information required to provide informed written consent. People undergoing fertility treatment are not compensated for donating embryos, eggs or sperm and their treatment is not affected by their decision to donate.
Non-patient volunteers who express an interest in donating eggs and sperm specifically for research are offered counselling and provided with information about the research by a dedicated research nurse. Women who wish to proceed to egg donation undergo medical assessment and those meeting the criteria are offered further counselling before providing written consent to undergo a cycle of egg donation. Those who donate, or intend to donate, have access to an independent counsellor throughout the process. In accordance with the HFEA regulations, volunteer egg donors receive a sum of money (up to a maximum of £750).
Potential donors can speak to a counsellor before making a decision about whether or not to donate. Both people whose eggs and sperm were used to make the embryos need to give their consent for the embryos to be used in research. Donors may withdraw their consent at any time before the embryos have been used in the research project.
Embryos used in research are not allowed to develop beyond 14 days after fertilisation and they can never be transferred into a woman’s womb.
More information about using eggs, sperm and embryos in research can be found on the HFEA’s website here.
The sensitive tissues described above, along with the potential future implications of HDBI research, raise important ethical, legal and social questions. We hold ethics seminars which provide regular opportunities for HDBI researchers to consider the wider implications of their work. And our engagement programme fosters discussion with the public in order to ensure our research stays relevant to society.
Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about HDBI research.