BNA joins UK Stakeholder Alliance on neural organoid research
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) is joining a new UK Stakeholder Alliance, convened by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB), to help develop best practice guidance for research involving neural organoids.
The Alliance brings together leading organisations from across research, regulation, funding and tissue banking to address the ethical and governance challenges emerging from rapid advances in neural organoid science.
Its establishment follows a recommendation in the Nuffield Council on Bioethics' 2026 report, Neural organoids: Ethical and governance considerations, which called for key stakeholders to work together to develop UK-focused best practice guidance.
Supporting responsible advances in neuroscience
Neural organoids are small, three-dimensional models grown from human stem cells that can mimic aspects of human brain development and function. They offer significant potential to improve understanding of neurological conditions, support drug development and advance biomedical research.
However, as the science progresses, important questions are emerging around research oversight, informed consent, animal welfare and the ethical implications of increasingly sophisticated models.
The Alliance will provide a forum for organisations with different areas of expertise and responsibility to share knowledge, identify where greater clarity and consistency are needed, and work towards practical guidance for the research community.
Its work will consider current research practices and anticipated scientific developments, including approaches that combine neural organoids with other biological models, non-human animals or computational technologies.
Bringing the neuroscience community's perspective
As the UK's largest organisation dedicated to neuroscience, the BNA is pleased to contribute to this collaborative initiative. We represent a broad community spanning academic research, clinical practice, industry and other areas of neuroscience, and recognise the importance of ensuring that scientific progress is supported by thoughtful and responsible approaches to research.
Dr Laura Ajram, Chief Executive of the British Neuroscience Association, said:
The BNA is very pleased to be part of this important Alliance. Our involvement builds on the contributions of BNA expert members, who have worked closely with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in the lead-up to this Alliance. Our recently published position statement reflects the considered work of our expert members and sets out the BNA’s perspective on the ethical and governance considerations raised by this rapidly developing field. We believe it is essential that policy and governance evolve in step with the science, supporting responsible innovation without creating unnecessary barriers to research. Through the Alliance, we look forward to continuing to bring the breadth of expertise across our membership to this collaborative work, helping to shape practical, proportionate and evidence-based guidance that supports the neuroscience community and maintains public confidence in this important area of research.
Working together on best practice
The Alliance brings together representatives from:
- Animals in Science Committee (ASC)
- Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU)
- British Neuroscience Association (BNA)
- Health Research Authority (HRA)
- Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR)
- Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- UK Stem Cell Bank (UKSCB)
- Wellcome
Through evidence gathering, stakeholder engagement and expert collaboration, the Alliance will work towards UK-focused best practice guidance for neural organoid research and related models and technologies.
