APPG for Human Relevant Science Annual General Meeting

24 January 2023 | 5pm | Minutes

Location: Committee Room 7, Main Committee Room Corridor, Palace of Westminster

Voting Members in Attendance Martyn Day MP, Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Tan Dhesi MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Jeff Smith MP,
Attendees Isobel Hutchinson (Animal Free Research UK), Dylan Underhill (Cruelty Free International), Darcie Wilson (Animal Free Research UK)
Apologies Sir Stephen Timms, Andrew Selous, Jim Shannon

1. Opening remarks

MD welcomed attendees and paid tribute to the contributions of the Group’s former Chair, Grahame Morris MP. MD also thanked everyone for their efforts over the past year and the progress that has been made by the APPG.

2. Election of Chair

  • Chair – Martyn Day MP was elected unanimously

3. Election of officers

  • Vice-Chair – Baroness Hayman was elected unanimously
  • Vice-Chair – Andrew Selous MP was elected unanimously in absentia
  • Vice-Chair – Tan Dhesi MP was elected unanimously
  • Officer – Chris Stephens MP was elected unanimously in absentia
  • Officer – Alex Sobel MP was elected unanimously in absentia
  • Officer – Rachael Maskell MP was elected unanimously in absentia

4. APPG finances

The APPG is not required to prepare an income and expenditure statement

5. Work over the past years

MD thanked the APPG for work completed over the past year.

6. Suggested work for 2023

IH made the below suggestions for work in 2023:

  • Over the coming year, the Group hopes to explore the potential of NAMs in helping to prevent Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI).
    • Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI) is one of the leading causes of liver failure in the UK causing significant harms to patients, including deaths and liver transplants. Safety tests in animals are known to be of limited value for DILI risk assessment, whereas human relevant “new approach” methods (NAMs) have now been developed which have much greater value.
  • The improvements that NAMs could bring to drug development are potentially worth billions to the pharmaceutical industry through improved R&D outcomes and can be expected to improve patient safety by bringing more safe drugs to market.
  • Over the course of 2023, the APPG on Human Relevant Science is looking to pursue a program of work that examines the potential of these new methods and how to facilitate their widespread implementation by relevant industries and regulatory agencies, in the UK and internationally. It plans to hear evidence from representatives of academia, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and regulatory agencies, before producing a series of recommendations for Government.
  • The new Chair of the APPG may wish to send an introductory letter to the relevant ministers.

All attendees were in support of these initiatives.

7. AOB

  • Date for next meeting
  • A Tuesday or Wednesday in mid-May, taking note of recess dates, will be selected and circulated.

There was no other business, and the meeting was closed by the Chair at 5:18pm.

Actions

Circulate introductory letter to relevant ministers from Martyn Day MP to introduce himself as the new Chair of the APPG. IH, MD
Select date for the next meeting IH, MD