Newcastle scientists granted licence for pioneering research
In some patients this leads to a variety of diseases which affect the brain, muscles, heart and other organs. The licence allows the research group, at Newcastle University Medical School and the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Centre for Life in Newcastle, to conduct a research project aimed at developing a technique for replacing defective mitochondria with normal mitochondria in the 1-cell zygote.
The researchers stress that this research is only the very first step in a very difficult process, which they hope will lead to techniques that might prevent the transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease. While the proposed technique has been found to be safe in animal embryos, it will be very important to determine whether it can be safely used in human eggs.
Abnormally fertilised eggs from consenting couples undergoing IVF treatment will be used in the research project. These eggs are not used for treatment because they contain the wrong number of chromosomes.
The Newcastle team is very grateful to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, which has provided funding for this research, and to the members of the Human Fertislisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Appeals Committee for their very thoughtful consideration of the research licence application.
Professor John Burn, Medical Director of the Institute of Human Genetics at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, explained on BBC TV News programmes that mitchondria were the 'batteries' that powered each cell in the human body.
Newcastle University spokesman Mick Warwicker said: 'The HFEA's decision is excellent news for British medical science and for Newcastle in particular, which was recently designated as a Science City by the Government.
'This research programme and others we are conducting could one day lead to new treatments for a range of diseases which are currently incurable, although we would stress that we are only at the starting point of a long process.'
'We accept that there is some opposition to research involving human eggs and we welcome public debate on the ethical issues. In this case, the regulatory body has decided that this research should proceed after weighing up all of the evidence very carefully.'
Alastair Balls, chief executive of Centre for Life, commented: 'We are really pleased with this result and think it's a great boost for research by Newcastle University at the Centre for Life.'
The Newcastle team's legal adviser at the appeal hearing was James Lawford Davies, Associate Solicitor, at Bevan Brittan. He said: 'This is a good illustration of why the government's review of the law in this area is necessary. It has taken 18 months and three hearings to obtain a licence, largely because the 1990 Act is very ambiguous when applied to research of this kind."
Dr David Harrison, Director of Research at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said: 'The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is delighted that the HFEA has given approval for this research project. The innovative approach being tested at Newcastle may lead to a treatment for mitochondrial myopathies, a group of conditions that dramatically affect quality and length of life.'
published on: 8th September 2005