The Emerging Science and Bioethics Advisory Committee (ESBAC) was the main UK advisory body on emerging healthcare scientific developments and their ethical, legal, social and economic implications. It was sponsored by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Department of Health (DH), England. Its membership included representation from all UK Health Departments for whom ESBAC also provided advice. ESBAC also provided a forum to consider and develop coordinated advice across the wider science, health and academic communities to help set priorities in response to new developments.