Finding donor siblings: the family relationships of donor conceived offspring. (360G-Wellcome-094079_Z_10_Z)

The proposed research will contribute to an on-going Wellcome Trust Enhancement Award in Biomedical Ethics entitled "Bioethics, Assisted Reproduction and the Family" for which I am Pl. The Enhancement Award focuses on three family types; gay fathers, solo mothers and donor siblings. The proposed research is central to the study of the third of these family types- donor siblings (donor conceived genetic half siblings raised in different families). By producing empirical data on the experiences of donor siblings who make contact with each other, the study will inform bioethical analysis in relation to the creation of families by donor conception following the removal of donor anonymity. The aim of the project is to conduct an in-depth study of the impact on individuals conceived by donor insemination of finding and meeting their donor siblings. A travel grant would enable me to collaborate with Professor Miriam Steele in New York to finalise the methodology, train the researchers and initiate the sampling procedures. It would also allow us to meet with Professor Robert Klitzman from Columbia University, a Collaborator on the Enhancement Award, to ensure that the data to be obtained will maximise bioethical analysis regarding this emerging family type.