Issue 665 (16 July 2012)

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Concerns about the consultation on the future of the HFEA

16 July 2012 - by Rachel Cutting

At the Association of Clinical Embryologists - the professional body representing clinical embryologists in the UK and abroad – we have grave concerns about dissolving the HFEA... [Read More]

Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust boosts IVF provision

16 July 2012 - by Jessica Ware

Couples undergoing fertility treatment in Gloucestershire will soon have access to three NHS-funded cycles of IVF treatment instead of just one. Eligibility criteria will also be widened, it was announced this month... [Read More]

Woman sues US regulator for right to private donor's sperm

16 July 2012 - by Ruth Retassie

A Californian woman is suing the US Food and Drug Administration over its sperm donation policy... [Read More]

'Outstanding' results in as-yet-unpublished arthritis stem cell trials

16 July 2012 - by Greg Ball

Two UK newspapers have hailed a potential treatment for osteoarthritis using a patient's own stem cells although results from early studies in animals and patients are yet to be published... [Read More]

US stem cell patients seek compensation for alleged fraud

16 July 2012 - by Cait McDonagh

Six patients in California, USA, are suing a South Korean company and others for allegedly misleading them about the benefits of stem cell treatments sold to them... [Read More]

Rare genetic mutation protective against Alzheimer's disease

16 July 2012 - by Linda Wijlaars

A rare genetic mutation, found in about one percent of Icelanders in a recent study, appears to protect against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline. It is the first mutation found to act in this way and could be a target for future drug therapy... [Read More]

UK surgeons launch womb transplant charity

16 July 2012 - by Victoria Burchell

A charity has been launched to raise money for research that could allow the first womb transplants in the UK... [Read More]

Genome sequencing method promises higher accuracy with less DNA

16 July 2012 - by Daryl Ramai

Technology that relies on less DNA to more accurately sequence people's genomes has been unveiled by a US biotech company... [Read More]

TV Review: Health Explained - How to Make Stem Cells

16 July 2012 - by Daniel Malynn

As a viewer I do not ask for much from a show; just to be a little informative, maybe some whimsical anecdote - I did not even get this from this short film. Instead, what I got was two and a half minutes of footage mostly of people opening doors and looking 'sciency' behind weird music.... [Read More]

Website Review: Changing Futures

16 July 2012 - by Marco Narajos

Changing Futures is a website developed by young people as a project led by Nowgen. It contains free online resources, delving into cystic fibrosis (CF) and gene therapy, aimed at teenagers and teachers.... [Read More]