Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB)

Our Working Group Chair, Professor Catriona McKinnon, published a new blog exploring why the most challenging questions surrounding SRM are ethical rather than technical, touching on justice, future, biodiversity and global governance. Read it here: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/so...

Ahead of the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, we have published a briefing drawing on findings from England's first Citizens' Jury on assisted dying in 2024. Read the full briefing: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/publication/...

We're delighted to share a new blog from interns Eve & Safiya, who reflect on their time with us, from exploring emerging tech & bioethical challenges to learning about policy, collaboration & research: ➡️ www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/ne...

We are launching a new project to develop up-to-date ethics advice on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and their convergence with AI and quantum computing. Our project will be overseen by an interdisciplinary expert Working Group, chaired by Martyn Pickersgill. Find out more here: 🔗 bit.ly/4vVZ3ef

In our latest blog, Professor Segun Fatumo shares reflections from his guest presentation at our recent Parliamentary and Scientific Committee event, exploring how embedding ethics across the innovation lifecycle can strengthen the UK’s science ecosystem. 🔗https://bit.ly/4eHiHoR

We have two exciting new opportunities to join the NCOB! 🔎 Senior Researcher (maternity cover) - Applications close on 1 July 2026 💡 Research and Policy Lead (Experimental Governance) - Applications close on 7 July 2026 Find out more about both roles and how to apply here:🔗 bit.ly/4vPWKtp

We have been working with @fphuk.bsky.social and @unibirmingham.bsky.social to develop a practical 5-stage decision-support tool designed to help policymakers identify and address ethical challenges at pace. We are now pleased to share our new report - find out more about REAL here: 🔗 bit.ly/3Q3RZNI

Neural organoids hold promise for understanding more about human brain development & disease, but how can we secure an ethical future for this advancing area of research? Working Group Chair Prof Emily Jackson writes for @pet-bionews.bsky.social🔗➡️https://bit.ly/4v5RcLz #makingethicsmatter

It's our 35th anniversary and we're sharing reflections from people and organisations we've worked with over this time. The Medical Research Council have co-funded us since 1993. Many thanks to Prof Patrick Chinnery for these supportive words. Read more in our Impact Report: bit.ly/NCOB_35

Our new report explores key questions arising in neural organoid research - using stem cells to make tiny models that mimic aspects of brain function and development. We are calling for best practice guidance to address governance gaps and support researchers: bit.ly/neural_organ...

📢 We are looking for three new Council members to contribute to and engage in the NCOB’s work. We are hoping to appoint members with expertise in data and AI ethics, medical science and healthcare practice. Find out more about the role and how to apply here:🔗 bit.ly/4cLcxmJ Apply by 1 June 2026

📢We are hiring! 🔎 The NCOB is looking for a proactive and organised Operations Administrator to support the senior leadership and wider team. ⏱️ Applications close on 5 May 2026 Find out more about how to apply here: bit.ly/3QKMBPf

📢New blog! NCOB Director Danielle Hamm reflects on findings from the 2025 Public Attitudes to Science Survey, highlighting the role that ethics can play in securing #public #trust in science and innovation. Read it here: 🔗 bit.ly/4caypaO

New blog! Council Member Suzanne Ost shares insights from her role as an expert adviser to citizens’ juries on #assisted #dying in both Jersey and England. Read it here: 🔗 bit.ly/4bwuK6B

Celebrating 35 years of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics 🎉 Today we share our anniversary report highlighting where our work has had its greatest impact across health and biomedical policy-making. ➡️ bit.ly/NCOB_35 Huge thanks to everyone who has been a part of this, from 1991 to today.

This week marks the next stage of our major public dialogue reviewing the 14-day rule for human embryo research, in partnership with @sciencewise.bsky.social and delivered by @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, @nationalvoices.bsky.social and @theliminalspace.bsky.social. Find out more here:🔗 bit.ly/4rFZZ4B

📢 Call for evidence to assist our ethical exploration of solar radiation modification (SRM). We're seeking insights on incorporating the interests of non-human species, the environment & future generations into policy & decision making on emerging tech. Closing 15 March. ➡️ bit.ly/CFE_SRM

In our last blog of 2025, Melissa Haynes Agoro reflects on key themes that have emerged in our horizon scanning work this year. Read it here:🔗 bit.ly/4q8ts6u

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed five new Council members with a range of expertise. @emmayhnell.bsky.social, Felicity Boardman, @julianhuppert.bsky.social, Rebecca Bennett and Suzanne Ost are joining us from this month. Find out more here:🔗 bit.ly/3MMRAgo

The 14-day rule for human embryo research has been in place for over 30 years. As scientific capabilities progress, and society changes, does it still reflect people's values & priorities? As part of our ongoing review, we're pleased to share two background briefings. ➡️ bit.ly/science_ethi...

We are pleased to be working with @sciencewise.bsky.social @ipsosgroup.bsky.social & National Voices on a series of community conversations, held across the UK, exploring views on the 14-day rule for human embryo research. Find out more: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news-blog/co...

We are pleased to share that we are launching a new project that will focus on #Solar #Radiation #Management (SRM) and its ethical considerations. Find out more here: ➡️ bit.ly/3VvVM5w #makingethicsmatter #geoengineering

Just one week left to apply to join the NCOB as one of our new Council Members! 📢 For more information about the role and how to apply please see our website: lnkd.in/d8KkJ6Us We look forward to hearing from you.

Tomorrow, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill returns to the House of Lords for its second reading. Read our briefing, which outlines the key insights from our Citizen’s Jury and highlights where the Bill aligns and diverges from the Jury’s recommendations and findings:➡️ bit.ly/3Vb8Ugi

We are delighted to announce a new partnership with @isscr.org exploring how to reflect ethical insights in a timeframed international horizon scan. Read the announcement here: bit.ly/468W2vZ

📢 We are excited to share that we have appointed four new members with expertise in horizon scanning, foresight and futures to join our Horizon Scanning Advisory Group (HSAG). Find out more here: ➡️ bit.ly/3HTa3WI #makingethicsmatter #horizonscanning

We are delighted to share that we have appointed an expert working group, chaired by Professor Emily Jackson from @lselaw.bsky.social, for our project assessing and advising on the ethical and regulatory issues raised by research using #neural #organoids. Find out more here:➡️🔗 bit.ly/4ljMO5G

We are pleased to announce that we are working with @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social to deliver a large-scale public dialogue as part of our project reviewing the 14-day rule for human #embryo #research. Find out more in our new blog: ➡️🔗 bit.ly/47tBz7s #publicengagement #makingethicsmatter

📣 Opportunity to work with us! Could you carry out a comparative mapping exercise on the governance of #neural #organoids and similar models? If so, get in touch! Find out more here : ➡️🔗https://bit.ly/4lmIxyg #makingethicsmatter #InvitationToTender

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!