Research applications

Lay summaries for research applications are available on this website as soon as applications have been processed. This is normally within a few days of a new application having been received by the HFEA.

Initial research applications:


Project Title

The vitrification of blastocysts following biopsy at the early-cleavage stage or blastocyst stage of embryo development ? A Pilot Study

Centre

IVF Hammersmith

Person Responsible

Mr Geoffrey Trew

Lay Summary

This study aims to compare the effects of biopsy at different stages.

The study will use embryos donated from patients who do not wish to freeze them for future use. Embryos will be allocated to one of three groups:

  • group 1 - the control group where poor quality embryos are cultured vitrification before being thawed.
  • group 2 - embryos will be biopsied on day 3 of development before vitified and subsequently thawed.
  • group 3 - embryos will be biopsied on day 5 or 6 prior to vitrification.
  The outcome measure in all groups will be the thaw survival rate.

Project Title

Xenofree derivation of human embryonic stem cells


Centre

Cellartis AB, Dundee UK


Person Responsible

Dr Mikael Englund

Lay Summary

We aim to derive embryonic stem cell lines using techniques free of animal contamination. To develop this technology is necessary so that stem cells later can be used for disease therapies.

The vast majority of the today existing human embryonic stem cell lines are derived using supporting cells from mice and nutrient solutions containing components originating from animals. Hence, an important goal for future stem cell-based treatments is the derivation of stem cells free from contamination from animals.

The ideal stem cell line derivation and culture comprises all defined conditions with synthetic or purified components. In this project, human embryos which are surplus to the requirements of the couple will be grown to the blastocyst stage in the IVF laboratories of the Assisted Conception Unit at Ninewells Hospital Dundee, Scotland. The embryos will then be transported to cellartis for stem cell line derivation.

Project Title

Derivation of GMP human embryonic stem cells


Centre

Centre for Human Reproductive Science
The Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women´s Health Care NHS Trust

Person Responsible

Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown


Lay Summary

Our proposed project will utilise surplus embryos generated for assisted reproductive treatment. These embryos will be used to derive embryonic stem cell lines under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions enabling them to be used for treatment. Derived cell lines will be deposited in the UK Stem Cell Bank for use by other researchers. In Birmingham we hope to use these lines to further characterise specific proteins which are crucial during fertilisation and early embryo development.

Project Title

Genetic screening of the preimplantation embryo


Centre

Centre for Human Reproductive Science
The Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women´s Health Care NHS Trust

Person Responsible

Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown


Lay Summary

When embryos are produced by IVF, during the first few days after fertilisation when they are still just a few cells, one or two of these cells can be taken without affecting the health of a future child. The reason to do this is to use genetic screening to check for severe debilitating illnesses or things which would cause a miscarriage and the associated upset. In an ideal world these can be avoided as IVF creates a number of embryos and so we could only pick those without problems to put back.

Currently one problem with these diagnoses is that in the early embryo not all cells are the same and the one cell that you take and sample may not be representative - you could make a misdiagnosis. Through use of embryos that would otherwise be disposed of we aim to establish clear and safe techniques to make an accurate diagnosis in these early embryo stages.

 

Last updated: 30 June 2008