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27
Oct
2022

A Conversation with Professor Sir Rory Collins Chief Executive of UK Biobank

This week's blog takes a fascinating look at the career of Professor Sir Rory Collins, Chief Executive of UK Biobank and the Head of the Nuffield Department of Population Health at Oxford University, and the importance of the UK Biobank. To tell us more about his work and the ways UK Biobank is helping to transform our future health and family life, Louisa Ghevaert caught up with Professor Sir Rory Collins.

20
Oct
2022

Blog, Donor conception law, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, Modern Family Law, Posthumous Conception Law, Surrogacy Law

HFEA ‘State of the Fertility Sector 2021-22’ report

The HFEA has recently published its annual ‘State of the Fertility Sector 2021-22’ report. Its makes for mainly positive reading in that of the 90,000 treatment and storage cycles carried out in the UK during 2021-22, less than 1 percent incurred an incident. As such, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) reports that patients can be reassured that they will receive safe and high quality care at UK fertility clinics.

06
Oct
2022

Blog, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Perspectives on Illumina’s Genomics Forum 2022

Illumina's inaugural in-person Genomics Forum 2022 in San Diego, USA, from 28 September - 1 October 2022 sent a clear message that the genomic health revolution is here. This trailblazing event brought together global leaders, scientific researchers, medics, policy makers, the data and technology sector and beyond to advance and push the boundaries of what is possible in the genomic era. Its collaborative and innovative approach, combined with its positive call to action, delivered an inspiring message of hope for the broad and effective use of genomic technology to deliver precision and preventative healthcare and disease surveillance to prevent the next pandemic.

05
Oct
2022

Blog, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Illumina Genomics Forum 2022: Spotlight Speaker Bill Gates

Louisa Ghevaert was delighted to attend a spotlight speech by Bill Gates at Illumina's inaugural in-person Genomics Forum in San Diego on 30 September 2022. Building on more than 20 years work on global health and development Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addressed how genomics are supporting and advancing global health and can help stop the next pandemic.

04
Oct
2022

Blog, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Illumina Genomics Forum 2022: A Conversation with Former US President Barack Obama

Louisa Ghevaert was privileged to attend a spotlight speech by former US President Barack Obama at Illumina's inaugural in-person Genomics Forum in San Diego on 28 September 2022. Building on his healthcare and precision medicine initiatives during his terms in presidential office, President Obama addressed the importance and ongoing need for equitable, accessible, affordable and better healthcare to improve the human condition.

03
Oct
2022

Blog, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Illumina’s Inaugural Genomics Forum 2022

Louisa Ghevaert was delighted to attend Illumina's inaugural Genomics Forum in San Diego, USA, from 28 September - 1 October 2022. This groundbreaking event gathered together global leaders from across the genomics, healthcare, scientific, technology, data and policy sectors to advance and improve genomic healthcare, with a spotlight speeches by former US President Barack Obama and Bill Gates. This four-day event also included sessions from over 60 leading world experts and genetic advocates with insight into genomics' role for more personalized, preemptive, and predictive healthcare.

21
Sep
2022

Blog, Genomics, Modern Family Law

Cord blood banking: life-saving potential that’s usually discarded at birth

This week's blog is an introduction to the fascinating world of umbilical cord blood stem cell banking. If you're expecting a little one right now, planning to in the future or know someone that is, it's worth reading on to discover just why this service is so valuable to families. To welcome us to stem cell banking, we've caught up with Amanda Williamson of Future Health Biobank, one of the UK's three main stem cell banks.

13
Sep
2022

Blog, Donor conception law, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, Genomics, International Surrogacy Law, Modern Family Law, Parenting Law, Posthumous Conception Law, Surrogacy Law

Is it important to protect my fertility and genetic legacy?

Individual fertility is precious and fragile. It can be lost or impaired for a variety of reasons, making it important to maximise and protect it for future family building purposes. Recognition and protection of individual genetic legacy is also becoming increasingly important from a medical standpoint, personal identity perspective, for personal privacy and security reasons and for the benefit of future generations as scientific, medical and genomic technology continues to rapidly advance. As such, it is important to take steps to protect individual fertility and genetic legacy not just for yourself but for the benefit of your partner/spouse and family too.

10
Aug
2022

Blog, Fertility Law, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern Family Law, Parenting Law

Changing Face of Family Life and Fertility in England and Wales in 2022

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) give important insight into the changing face of family life and fertility in England and Wales. They show that for the first time last year (2021), more babies were born outside of marriage in England and Wales than within marriage. They also show long-term trends in decreasing live births and increasing later-life parenthood as more people delay having children to focus on their careers. These trends indicate growing acceptance of non-traditional family building and family forms in England and Wales.

05
Aug
2022

Blog, Donor conception law, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, International Surrogacy Law, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern Family Law, Parenting Law, Posthumous Conception Law, Surrogacy Law

Later-life parenthood: what do I need to consider?

Women and men are increasingly delaying having children in their twenties and thirties, choosing instead to focus on their jobs and careers, becoming a homeowner and building a more stable economic position. In addition, increasing acceptance of non-traditional family forms and growing numbers of people choosing to become parents in second-time relationships are driving trends in later-life parenthood. As a result, more people are turning to fertility treatment, donor conception and surrogacy to overcome issues associated with age-related fertility decline and advancing age. Demand for fertility treatment is further fuelled by increasing awareness that a woman’s fertility is finite, typically showing significant falls in fertility levels and successful birth outcomes as from age 35.

03
Aug
2022

Blog, Donor conception law, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern Family Law, Parenting Law, Posthumous Conception Law, Surrogacy Law

Understanding of Fertility, Genomics and Embryo Research in the UK in 2022

To mark its 30th anniversary in 2022, the Progress Educational Trust (“PET”) commissioned important research, supported by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, to gauge public awareness about fertility, genomics and embryo research in the UK. Ipsos carried out a nationally representative online survey of 2,233 UK adults on PET’s behalf between 24 - 27 March 2022. The results matter because they provide a snapshot of current public understanding and opinion about issues impacting the fertility sector and rapid advances in the field of genomics to combat genetic diseases. These research findings are also significant because they come at a time when law reform is expected in these key areas in the UK.

22
Jul
2022

Blog, Fertility Law, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern Family Law, News, Parenting Law

Women’s Health Strategy for England Marks a Step Forward

On average, women in the UK live longer than men, but they spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability compared with men. On Wednesday 20 July 2022, the government therefore published its first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England. This is a much needed step forward to address the gender healthcare gap, recognising there has been a male orientated approach up until now in research and clinical trials, education and training for healthcare professionals as well as in the creation and delivery of healthcare policies and services.

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