NYSCF Research Contributes to British Public’s Endorsement of Technique to Prevent Mitochondrial Disease
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised the British government on an advanced form of IVF that prevents mitochondrial disease in eggs or embryos, a technique refined by NYSCF researchers. Following a public discussion and a call for scientific evidence, the HFEA found the UK public generally supportive and the treatment itself to be of minimal risk with high therapeutic benefit. In December, NYSCF scientists reported the development of one such treatment to prevent the inheritance of mitochondrial disease in children. One child is born every 30 minutes with a mitochondrial disease, and currently there are no cures to these debilitating diseases. We hope these findings will encourage the UK government to act to bring this cure to the clinic.