Of mice and human embryos: is there an ethically preferred order of preclinical research on new assisted reproductive technologies?

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that the responsible introduction of new assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) requires preclinical safety research, including the use of animal models and human embryos. However, the moral sensitivity of human embryo research has led to regulations and guidance stating that human embryos may only be used for research that cannot also be conducted with animals. We call this the 'use animals first' (UAF) rule. In the field of ART research, this translates into the notion of an ideal chain of consecutive preclinical research steps, where research using human embryos may only be considered as a further step after promising results have been obtained in animals first. This may lead to research ethics committees requiring animal studies that are in fact a waste of time and money, while exposing animals to an infringement of their wellbeing for no good purpose. In this paper, we explore the possible moral arguments behind the UAF-rule and test their validity. We conclude that there are no convincing grounds for upholding this rule and recommend replacing it.

Dutch perspectives on the conceptual and moral qualification of human embryo-like structures: a qualitative study

“…It is by virtue of these capacities that persons command respect, and it is by virtue of that respect that they should never be treated as mere means (instrumentalised), but always as ends in themselves. Organisms that fall below what McMahan refers to as 'the person threshold', however, may be justifiably used instrumentally, albeit under conditions of proportionality and subsidiarity (Jans et al, 2018).…”

Enthusiasm, concern and ambivalence in the Belgian public’s attitude towards in-vitro gametogenesis

“…From these two elements, one would be inclined to conclude that we should invest in preclinical research in order to bring IVG to the clinic in a safe way. Both animal research and embryo research would likely be required to reach that goal ( Jans et al, 2018b ). More specifically, embryos would need to be created from gametes that were generated in vitro , in order to assess whether they are functional and whether they lead to normal embryos.…”