Laurence Lwoff

Mrs. Laurence Lwoff is currently the Head of the Human Rights and Biomedicine Division and Secretary of the Steering Committee for Human Rights in Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) at the Council of Europe. She holds an MSc in reproductive physiology from the University of Paris VI – Jussieu, a degree in agronomy from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon, and a PhD in molecular biology. Mrs. Lwoff joined the Council of Europe in 1991, where she initially managed the Secretariat of Conventions related to animal use in agriculture and science. Her responsibilities expanded to biotechnology in 1999, and she played a key role as Secretary of the 1999 International Conference on Ethical Issues in Biotechnology. In 2002, she joined the Bioethics Department, focusing on human genetics and the protection of the human embryo and foetus. She also contributed to the drafting of the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine regarding genetic testing for health purposes.