Nuffield Council on Bioethics

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body that examines and advises on ethical issues arising from developments in bioscience and health. It was established by the Trustees of the Nuffield Foundation in 1991, and since 1994 it has been funded jointly by the Foundation, Wellcome and the Medical Research Council.

The Council has achieved an international reputation for advising policy makers and stimulating debate in bioethics.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ terms of reference


  1. Identify and define ethical questions raised by recent developments in biological and medical research that concern, or are likely to concern, the public interest.

  2. Make arrangements for the independent examination of such questions with appropriate involvement of relevant stakeholders.

  3. Inform and engage in policy and media debates about those ethical questions and provide informed comment on emerging issues related to or derived from the Council’s published or ongoing work.

  4. Make policy recommendations to Government or other relevant bodies and to disseminate its work through published reports, briefings and other appropriate outputs.

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Welfare | 2020 – 2024

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Supporting older patients to make informed decisions about knee surgery

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The impact of musculoskeletal conditions on outcomes of other illnesses

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Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Enriched data integration for population musculoskeletal health intelligence

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Welfare | 2020 – 2022

Mapping rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in Scotland and Wales

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Vulnerability, migration and well-being: experiences, perceptions and barriers

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How the COVID-19 crisis is affecting food security

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Welfare | 2020 – 2022

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How arthritis affects earnings over time

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Welfare | 2019 – 2022

The effect of Community Mental Health Services in England

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Welfare | 2015 – 2021

Food Foundation: Finding solutions to social, health and nutritional problems in the UK

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Assessing the potential of the Well Centre ‘Teen Health Check’ data

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Vulnerability, migration and well-being: experiences, perceptions and barriers

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New

Welfare | 2020 – 2021

How the COVID-19 crisis is affecting food security

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In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

COVID-19 social study

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In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

The impact of musculoskeletal conditions on outcomes of other illnesses

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In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

How arthritis affects earnings over time

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2023

Supporting older patients to make informed decisions about knee surgery

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

Mapping rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in Scotland and Wales

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Enriched data integration for population musculoskeletal health intelligence

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Assembling the data jigsaw: powering robust population research in MSK disease

View project
Reported

Welfare | 2011 – 2013

Smoking: behavioural economics and public policy

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In progress

Education | Welfare | 2013 – 2019

Neglected tropical diseases

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Reported

Education | 2012 – 2015

Explaining a sex chromosome abnormality to children

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In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Assembling the data jigsaw: powering robust population research in MSK disease

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2023

Supporting older patients to make informed decisions about knee surgery

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

The impact of musculoskeletal conditions on outcomes of other illnesses

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Enriched data integration for population musculoskeletal health intelligence

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

Mapping rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in Scotland and Wales

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

Vulnerability, migration and well-being: experiences, perceptions and barriers

View project
New

Welfare | 2020 – 2021

How the COVID-19 crisis is affecting food security

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

COVID-19 social study

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

How arthritis affects earnings over time

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2019 – 2022

The effect of Community Mental Health Services in England

View project
In progress

Welfare | 2015 – 2021

Food Foundation: Finding solutions to social, health and nutritional problems in the UK

View project
In progress

Education | Welfare | 2013 – 2019

Neglected tropical diseases

View project
Reported

Welfare | 2014 – 2015

Assessing the potential of the Well Centre ‘Teen Health Check’ data

View project
Reported

Education | 2012 – 2015

Explaining a sex chromosome abnormality to children

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Reported

Welfare | 2011 – 2013

Smoking: behavioural economics and public policy

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Reported

Welfare | 2011 – 2014

Prenatal sex selection against females in the UK

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See all

We aim to improve people’s lives by funding research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare and Justice. We also fund student programmes that give young people skills and confidence in science and research.

We are an open, collaborative and engaged funder that offers more than money. Through connecting the individual projects we fund, we strengthen their collective impact and give voice to an overarching narrative.

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