James Lawford-Davies
Lecturer in Law and Medicine

Research Interests

I work as both a solicitor in private practice and a lecturer at the Institute. In both capacities my main interest is in the interface between law and life science, particularly the regulation of reproductive and genetic technologies.

As a solicitor, I have advised a large number of clinics, universities and research centres licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on a wide range of regulatory, commercial and litigation matters. These have included rights-based challenges brought by IVF patients, judicial reviews of regulatory action taken by the HFEA, and advising on the implications of EU law in this sector. I have also been very much involved in advising on embryo research, for example acting for Newcastle University in its successful rebuttal of a challenge to its licence to create human-animal hybrid embryos for stem cell research purposes.

My academic research interests relate to the similar areas. I have a particular interest in the basis and justification for regulation and policy in this field. I was invited to give oral evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee review of the regulatory framework in 2004, and in 2006 I was commissioned by the Canadian Ministry of Justice to draft an expert report on international approaches to regulation in assisted reproduction and related research. I was also involved in advising MPs and Peers in the recent debates on the new Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 as it passed through Parliament.

I am also interested in cross-border movement of patients seeking treatment, particularly pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). I am part of an EU group which is looking for ways to improve the referral, support and monitoring for such patients in circumstances where different countries have adopted widely differing regulatory approaches to this treatment.

I am a member of several ethics committees and advisory boards, including the advisory board of the NHS Genetics and Education Development Centre. I also lecture widely on issues relating to the regulation of IVF and embryo research both in the UK and internationally.

Key publications

Coverleyn A, Dequeker E, Morris M, Sermon K, Lawford Davies J, Antiñolo G, Schmutzler A, Vanecek J, Palau F, Zika E, and Ibarreta D, ‘Provision and Quality Assurance of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis in Europe' in European Journal of Human Genetics (2008) 16, 290–299;

Coverleyn A, Dequeker E, Morris M, Lawford Davies J, Sermon K, Antiñolo G, Schmutzler A, Vanecek J, Palau F, Zika E, and Ibarreta D, ‘Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis in Europe’ (January 2007) Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Lawford Davies J, 'UK implementation of the EU Tissues and Cells Directives' (8 August 2008) Vol 19 No 8; Regulatory Affairs Journal - Pharma and Devices