Pioneering DNA process by team from North East sees eight births by 'three-parent babies' technique

IN a world-first, a Newcastle team has helped bring eight babies into the world using a pioneering technique that prevents them inheriting potentially life-threatening genetic disease.

- SAM VOLPE

Experts at Newcastle University and the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and their patients campaigned to be able to create 'three-parent babies' which crucially would not inherit mitochondrial disease from their mother.

The law changed in 2015 and the Newcastle team was given the go-ahead in 2016 and now research published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine shows eight children have been born as a result.

Most importantly, each has been free of disease showing either zero or very low levels of the genetic issue that causes it.

The families involved have chosen to remain anonymous. One mother of a baby girl said: "As parents, all we ever wanted was to give our child a healthy start in life. Mitochondrial donation IVF made that possible. After years of uncertainty this treatment gave us hope and then it gave us our baby.

"We look at them now, full of life and possibility, and we're overwhelmed with gratitude. Science gave us a chance."

The mother of a baby boy added: "We are now proud parents to a healthy baby a true mitochondrial replacement success. This breakthrough has lifted the heavy cloud of fear that once loomed over us.

"Thanks to this incredible advancement and the support we received, our little family is complete. The emotional burden of mitochondrial disease has been lifted, and in its place is hope, joy, and deep gratitude."

Clinical lead and reproductive medicine consultant Dr Rekha Pillai said the programme had been a huge success and a "ray of hope" for families in a heartbreaking position. Mitochondrial diseases are caused by genetic mutations in the mitochondria in each of a person's cells. In some people these mutations might not cause an issue, but there's no knowing whether or not a child they may have could be affected.