Laurence LWOFF holds a MD in physiology from the University of Paris VI – Jussieu (France). She then obtained her degree in Agronomy from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon (France) in 1986 and received her PhD in molecular biology in 1989.
She joined the Council of Europe in 1991, where she was entrusted with the responsibilities of the Secretariat of the Conventions concerning the use of animals in science and agriculture, in the Public Law Department. In 1999, her responsibilities were extended to biotechnology. She was the Secretary of the International Conference of the Council of Europe on Ethical Issues Arising from the Applications of Biotechnology (Oviedo, Spain, May 1999). In July 2002, she joined the Bioethics Department where she has been responsible in particular for the activities on human genetics and on the protection of the human embryo and the foetus. She has also been working on the development of a pedagogical tool on bioethics for young people. She is currently Head of Bioethics Division in the Health and Bioethics Department, and Secretary of the Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI).