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The HFEA's monthly newsletter for clinic staff

October 2025

Updates from the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) – June 2025

The Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) met on 6 October 2025. Papers from the meeting are available on the SCAAC webpage.

The Committee discussed developments in two horizon scanning topics and allocated a treatment add-on rating to intrauterine and intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Alternative methods to derive embryonic and embryonic-like stem cells

The committee discussed research findings on establishing and maintaining human pluripotent stem cell populations. This covered stem cells in distinct pluripotent states, advances in establishing alternative human stem cell models, establishing extraembryonic human stem cell lines, as well as establishing novel embryonic and extra embryonic stem cells lines. Technical advances in culture systems and the use of human embryonic stem cells and related stem cell models as platforms for genetic research, drug screening and regenerative therapy were also considered.

Testicular tissue transplantation to restore fertility in males

Members reviewed research developments on testicular tissue transplantation in animals, with a case report of the first autologous grafting of adult human testis tissue. Other research focused on methodology and protocols used for testicular tissue culture and cryopreservation, including safety and health outcomes as well as the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on fertility. Studies on attitudes and experiences of providers, patients and families were also considered.

The Committee noted that men who previously had tissue cryopreserved as prepubertal boys are now wishing to use the tissue and therefore considering research in this field is vital. There is a joint HFEA and Human Tissue Authority (HTA) statement currently in place to address the regulatory overlap.

Platelet-rich plasma as a treatment add-on

During the June 2025 SCAAC meeting the Committee agreed that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for intrauterine and intraovarian infusion/injection met the criteria to be rated as an HFEA treatment add-on.

The Committee subsequently rated intraovarian PRP for poor/diminished ovarian reserve. Intrauterine PRP was also rated for thin/refractory endometrium, recurrent/repeated implantation failure, Asherman’s syndrome/intrauterine adhesions and recurrent pregnancy loss. Further information will be added to the ‘Treatment add-ons with limited evidence’ webpage in due course.

Relevant public health developments and research findings

The Committee discussed the papers published by the Newcastle Fertility Centre on preimplantation genetic testing and their reproductive care pathway using mitochondrial donation. The two papers were noted as complementary and detailed not only the techniques used but also the patient outcomes.

A paper on IVF outcomes in same-sex female couples using their partner eggs versus own eggs was flagged to the Committee. The findings of the paper resulted in some minor changes to information on our website.

A paper on the development of human oocytes from adult somatic (skin) cells was also discussed.

Members noted the need to encourage further collaboration between clinics and researchers in relation to embryo research, to ensure that embryos donated for research could be used.

Once finalised, minutes from the meeting will be available on the SCAAC webpage.

External Adviser appointed to the SCAAC

Following a competitive recruitment process, we are delighted to welcome Professor Laura Shallcross as an External Adviser to the HFEA’s Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC).

Professor Shallcross is Director of the Institute of Health Informatics at University College London and Professor of Public Health & Translational Data Science at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). She is also co-director of the computational medicine theme of the UCLH/UCL Biomedical Research Centre, which seeks to translate data-driven innovation in health and care into benefits for patients.

Her research interests include medical microbiology, health services and systems, public health and epidemiology.

Professor Shallcross is appointed for an initial term of three years.

You can find more information about the SCAAC on our website, including further details of committee members and their affiliations.

Our latest clinical governance summary report

We have published our latest clinical governance summary report that covers some of the common non-compliances identified at inspections, reported incidents and complaints received from January to March 2025.

The aim of this report is to highlight key areas of practice where improvements can be made, or where learning and experiences can be shared to benefit other clinics.

To promote learning from inspections we encourage you to use the areas outlined in this report as an opportunity to consider how your clinic might approach these issues.

The HFEA, in line with other healthcare regulatory bodies, promotes an open reporting culture where healthcare professionals are more likely to learn from incidents when they feel safe and secure reporting them internally and externally to the appropriate regulatory bodies.

Did you know?

As part of the inspection strategy and overarching licensing process, all licensed clinics are allocated a specific inspector to aid in communication. Clinics may also correspond with other departments within the HFEA such as the licensing team or PRISM support.

We’re aware that some staff work in multiple clinics, and may also move to another centre within the same group of clinics, so for any communication with the HFEA it’s essential to:

Include the name of the clinic and/or the centre number in the subject box or in the main text of an email.
When reporting incidents ensure that the centre number where the incident took place is in the subject box (and that this matches the details on the incident report form).

The steps above ensure that when our inspectors are considering any questions raised, or monitoring a clinic, that the response is specific to the clinic and recorded correctly in our systems.

Regulatory principles 10, 11 and 13 (HFEA Code of Practice).

Editorial statement

Clinic Focus is the official electronic newsletter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, is produced by the editorial team of the HFEA and provides a monthly roundup of news and information for clinics and their staff working in the field of fertility treatment.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission.

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