Lecture on IVF marks birth of new law school

The University of Portsmouth's new school of law will be officially opened today (29 October) with a public lecture on in IVF.

Baroness Ruth Deech, who chaired the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for eight years, will give a lecture called Modernising Reproduction to tie in with the 30th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown - the first ever IVF baby.

As the techniques have progressed from IVF to life-saving stem cell therapy, Baroness Deech will explore whether advances of embryology are now taken for granted.

As part of a new law introduced this year, Parliament has cleared the way for yet more scientific advances and has approved mixed animal-human embryos, saviour siblings and the screening out of disease.

At todays opening Baroness Deech will also discuss whether Parliament is failing to address the impact of IVF on modern family life.

Head of the new law school Caroline Strevens said: Portsmouth has an established reputation as a thriving and innovative law group. The university has delivered law degrees for many years and the establishment of the school of law will reinforce the reputation of our graduates, our academics and our curriculum, which is based on innovation and interaction with the local community."