A pioneering three-parent IVF technique in the UK has led to the birth of eight healthy babies, all free from mitochondrial DNA diseases that their mothers risked passing on. Mitochondrial DNA mutations affect approximately one in every 5000 births worldwide, primarily inherited from mothers, with males able to be affected but not passing on the mutations.
These harmful mutations can significantly reduce energy production, particularly impacting energy-demanding organs such as the heart, brain, and muscles. The University of Newcastle has announced a new method, involving the transfer of “nuclear” DNA from an egg with mitochondrial mutations to a donor egg devoid of such mutations. This donor egg is also stripped of its nuclear DNA, ensuring that the resulting child inherits its genetic traits solely from the birth parents, while being free of mitochondrial DNA disorders.
This breakthrough trial resulted in eight births, including identical twins, from seven mothers. Impressively, all the newborns exhibited either no signs of mitochondrial mutations or only minimal traces not likely to lead to health issues. One mother expressed her feelings of hope and gratitude, stating that after a long wait, the treatment gave them their desired baby.
In Australia, the hope is to replicate this success. Each year, around 60 babies are born with mitochondrial diseases, conditions that can be serious or life-threatening, and approximately 120,000 Australians carry genetic mutations that could be passed to their children. The introduction of Maeve’s Law in March 2022 facilitates mitochondrial donation in Australia, and the Medical Research Future Fund allocated $15 million in 2023 to support a pilot program.
The mitoHOPE Program aims to conduct clinical trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of mitochondrial donation in Australia. According to Professor John Carroll from Monash University, the recent UK findings are expected to propel similar initiatives in Australia. He highlighted the ambition to soon acquire necessary licenses for training IVF embryologists in the new procedure, signalling positive developments for families facing mitochondrial diseases in Australia.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler affirmed the government’s support for this crucial research, which holds promise for addressing mitochondrial diseases that affect many families. Ultimately, the results from the UK contribute to a growing sense of optimism for the future of mitochondrial donation in Australia, potentially providing hope for many awaiting a solution to this challenging issue.