Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – A recently published study reveals that eight babies have been born using the UK’s groundbreaking licensed IVF method developed in Newcastle to bring down the risk of mitochondrial diseases.
The eight infants did not show any signs of mitochondrial DNA disorders. The group consists of four girls and four boys, including one pair of identical twins, all born to seven women who were at high risk of passing on severe diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA. The Newcastle team, who developed this mitochondrial donation technique involving fertilized human eggs, report that this new procedure—called pronuclear transfer—is successful in significantly reducing the chance of these otherwise untreatable mitochondrial DNA illnesses.
Two papers published in The New England Journal of Medicine detail the reproductive and clinical results of the pronuclear transfer treatments conducted so far. All children were born healthy, reached their developmental milestones on schedule, and the harmful mitochondrial DNA mutations from the mothers were either undetectable or present at very low levels unlikely to cause illness.
This technique was originally formed using human eggs by scientists at Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, backed by funding from Wellcome and NHS England.
The mother of a baby girl born through mitochondrial donation shared her joy indicating that as parents, their greatest wish was simply to give their child a healthy beginning. Mitochondrial donation IVF made that dream a reality. She further indicated that after years filled with uncertainty, this treatment brought us hope—and ultimately, their baby and watching her now, vibrant and full of potential, fills them with overwhelming gratitude. She pointed out that science has truly given them a chance.
Another mother, whose baby boy was born through the same technique, pointed out that they are proud to be the parents of a healthy baby—this is a genuine success story of mitochondrial replacement, and that the breakthrough has lifted the heavy shadow of fear that once hung over us.
She further pointed out that thanks to this remarkable medical advance and the support they received, their family is now whole and the weight of mitochondrial disease has been lifted, replaced by hope, happiness, and profound thankfulness.
Professor Sir Doug Turnbull, Newcastle University part of the Newcastle team explained “Mitochondrial disease can have a devastating impact on families. Today’s news offers fresh hope to many more women at risk of passing on this condition who now have the chance to have children growing up without this terrible disease. Within the framework of the NHS in a well-regulated environment, we are able to offer mitochondrial donation as part of a research study to affected women in the UK.“
The Newcastle-based team in the UK, responsible for developing and refining pronuclear transfer in fertilised human eggs, has now shared results from treatments aimed at lowering the risk of mitochondrial DNA disorders.
In babies born after pronuclear transfer, the quantity of harmful mitochondrial DNA in their neonatal blood ranged from undetectable to 16%. This presence of mutated mitochondrial DNA is attributed to the transfer of small amounts of maternal mitochondria that remain attached to the nuclear DNA during the procedure—a recognised challenge in mitochondrial donation techniques.
The researchers are continuing their foundational studies to gain deeper insights into this issue and explore ways to minimise mitochondrial DNA carryover in future treatments.
Professor Mary Herbert, the lead author of the paper on reproductive outcomes who conducted the study at Newcastle University, indicated that these results are encouraging and offer hope, nonetheless, continued research will play a vital role in fully understand the current limitations of mitochondrial donation techniques and to enhance the effectiveness of treatments in the years ahead.
