Mitochondrial donation treatment

“Mitochondrial donation treatment offers families with severe inherited mitochondrial illness the possibility of a healthy child. The HFEA oversees a robust framework which ensures that mitochondrial donation is provided in a safe and ethical manner.

“All applications for treatment are assessed on an individual basis against the tests set out in the law and only after independent advice from experts. These are still early days for mitochondrial donation treatment and the HFEA continues to review clinical and scientific developments. More information can be found on our website: Mitochondrial donation treatment.

“We understand that the team at Newcastle hopes to publish information of their mitochondrial treatment programme in peer reviewed journals shortly.”

Ends

For more information or for interviews with a HFEA spokesperson, please contact press.office@hfea.gov.uk or call 020 7291 8226.
For out of hours requests, please call the duty press officer on 07771 981920.

Notes to editors

How many applications have been approved for mitochondrial donation treatment?

As of 10 May 2023, 32 patients have been given approval for mitochondrial donation treatment by the HFEA Statutory Approvals Committee. These are decisions made on an individual case by case basis where there are no other options for the families involved and in strict accordance with the law. More information can be found about the process on Mitochondrial donation treatment and all decisions are published on our website under Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life ‘reports archive’, Licence Committee – other.

More information can be found in the HFEA Code of Practice from page 316.