---
title: "Nuffield Council on Bioethics"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuffield_Council_on_Bioethics"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:23:56.610689+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is a UK-based independent charitable body, which examines and reports on bioethical issues raised by new advances in biological and medical research. Established in 1991, the Council is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. The Council has been described by the media as a 'leading ethics watchdog', which 'never shrinks from the unthinkable'.

== Purpose ==
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics was set up in response to concerns about the lack of a national organization responsible for evaluating the ethical implications of developments in biomedicine and biotechnology. Its terms of reference are:

To identify and define ethical questions raised by recent developments in biological and medical research that concern, or are likely to concern, the public interest;
To make arrangements for the independent examination of such questions with appropriate involvement of relevant participants;
To inform and engage in policy and media debates about ethical questions and provide informed comment on emerging issues related to or derived from the Council’s published or ongoing work; and
To make policy recommendations to Government or other relevant bodies and to disseminate its work through published reports, briefings and other appropriate outputs.

== How the Council works ==
The Council selects topics to examine through a horizon scanning programme, which aims to identify developments relevant to biological and medical research. Members of the Council meet quarterly to discuss and contribute to ongoing work, review recent advances in medical and biological research that raise ethical questions and choose topics for further exploration. The Council is well known for its in-depth inquiries which usually take 18–24 months and are overseen by an expert working group, informed by extensive consultation and research.

== Membership and governance ==
The Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics is appointed by the Nuffield Foundation in consultation with the other funders. Chairs are appointed for five years. Council members are drawn from relevant fields of expertise including science, medicine, sociology, philosophy and law, for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of an additional three-year term. When vacancies arise, the council advertises widely. The council's membership advisory group considers and makes recommendations to the council on future members selected from the respondents to advertisements.

=== Governing board ===
The governing board was established by the funders of the council in 2017 and holds the principal responsibility for the governance of the NCOB, overseeing its operations and providing assurance that it is working within the terms of its grant. The chair (distinct from the chair of the council) is Professor Jane Macnaughton (Durham University) with other members Dr Sarion Bowers (University of Cambridge), Professor Adam Hedgecoe (Cardiff University),  Dr Katherine Littler (World Health Organisation) and three representatives of the funders.

=== Chair ===
Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley (2024–present)
Professor David Archard (2017–2024)
Professor Jonathan Montgomery (2012–2017)
Professor Albert Weale FBA (2008–2012)
Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC FBA (2003–2007)
Professor Sir Ian Kennedy FBA (1998–2002)
Baroness Onora O'Neill CBE, FBA (1996–1998)
Sir Patrick Nairne GCB, MC (1991–1996)

=== Director ===
Danielle Hamm was appointed in June 2021
Former Directors: 

Hugh Whittall
Professor Sandy Thomas
David Shapiro

=== Members ===
Current

Victoria Butler-Cole
Carol Brayne
Melanie Challenger
Clare Chambers
John Coggon
Frances Flinter
Elaine Gadd
Anne Kerr
Michael Reiss
Mehrunisha Suleman
Susan Tansey
Previous members

Simon Burrall
Simon Caney
Tara Clancy(2015-21)
John Dupré
Robin Weiss
Adam Wishart
Tom Shakespeare
Mona Siddiqui
Michael Banner (2014–16)
Kenneth Calman (2000–08)
John Gurdon (1991–95)
Soren Holm (2006–12)
John Krebs (2006–07)
Ottoline Leyser (2009–15)
Tim Lewens (2009–15)
Anne McLaren (1991-00)
Shaun Pattinson, former Deputy Chair (2015-21)
Raymond Plant (2004–07)
Pauline Perry (2003–05)
Nick Ross (1999-05)
Marilyn Strathern (2000–06)
David Williams (1991–94)
Margaret Turner-Warwick (1991-00)
Christine Watson