A leading historian of science is to become the new head of the Government’s fertility watchdog.

Lisa Jardine, Centenary Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary, University of London, will take over as the chairwoman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on April 1, the Government’s Appointments Commission announced yesterday. Professor Jardine, whose specialist fields of study include the history of the scientific revolution, succeeds Shirley Harrison, who stepped down in November after less than a year in the job.

Ms Harrison had originally been appointed to chair both the HFEA and the Human Tissue Authority before their planned merger, but resigned from the former post after ministers dropped the legislation that would have combined the regulators. The proposal had alarmed doctors, scientists and patient groups, who said the new body would have had insufficient expertise, placing patient safety at risk.

Professor Jardine’s appointment will end a period of uncertainty for the HFEA, which has been operating recently with an acting chairman and chief executive. Angela McNab, the chief executive, was seconded to the Department of Health’s public health team in October. She had been criticised by doctors and MPs for her handling of complaints against Mohammed Taranissi, a leading fertility specialist.

A warrant obtained by Ms McNab, authorising the HFEA to search Mr Taranissi’s clinics, was ruled illegal by the High Court in June, leaving the watchdog facing a legal bill that could reach £1 million.

Alan Doran has been the HFEA’s interim chief executive since Ms McNab’s secondment, while the authority has been chaired temporarily since Ms Harrison resigned by Walter Merricks, a lawyer who is the father of donor-conceived children.

One of Professor Jardine’s challenges will be to steer the HFEA through the implications of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament. This will update the 18-year-old fertility laws, with provisions that include new rights for homosexual and single parents and a ban on sex selection for social reasons.

By law, the HFEA must always have a lay chairman, which excludes doctors and scientists working in fertility treatment or embryology from consideration for the post. Before Ms Harrison, a public relations executive, the authority was chaired by Dame Suzi Leather, whose background was in consumer representation, and by Baroness Deech, a lawyer.

Professor Jardine, who will be paid £55,000 for a three-day week, is well qualified for the job as an expert on the history of science who has written biographies of Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. She is currently on secondment from her academic post to the Royal Society.

Mr Doran said: “We are delighted to have Lisa join us at the HFEA. This is a very exciting time with a new legislative framework passing through Parliament and our own drive to improve the way we do our work.” He also praised the hard work and commitment of Mr Merricks as the interim chairman.

Times Recommends

• Donor organ allowed child’s own heart to heal
• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Sacha Baron Cohen forced to tone down Brüno