Newcastle University scientists welcome ethics council backing for IVF gene switching

8:00am Tuesday 12th June 2012 in News By Barry Nelson, Health Editor

WORLD-BEATING North- East scientists have welcomed the findings of an independent report that makes it more likely they will be able to resume controversial, but potentially life-saving, research.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics said the technique, sometimes described as threeparent IVF, would be an ethical treatment option for families affected by mitochondrial diseases if it could be shown to be safe and effective.

Alison Murdoch, professor of reproductive medicine at Newcastle University, said: We welcome the findings of the Nuffield Council report. It is very reassuring that they support our aims and we hope the Government will also give support.

In 2010, scientists from the university proved it was possible to use a form of IVF to prevent a group of deadly inherited diseases being passed to the next generation.

The discovery was hailed by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign as a ray of hope for families who fear they might pass on mitochondrial disease to their children.

However, some campaigners are concerned at the technique, which involves taking part of a human egg donated by a healthy individual to replace the faulty mitochondria of the affected mother.

About one in every 6,500 children born in the UK has severe mitochondrial disease.

Mitochondria are located in every human cell and provide the energy for cells to function.

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Newcastle University scientists welcome ethics council backing for IVF gene switching