World’s first foal born through maternal spindle transfer, an advanced assisted reproduction technique effective against infertility

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  • Embryotools has achieved the birth of the world’s first foal conceived using the pioneering technique maternal spindle transfer. Unlike egg donation, this technology allows the mother to contribute to the genetics of the offspring produced, offering new perspectives for lineage preservation and species conservation.
  • This experimental technique has already demonstrated its efficacy as a treatment for infertility in humans with the birth of seven healthy babies for couples who had been unable to conceive despite numerous IVF treatments. The clinical results emphasize the potential of maternal spindle transfer as a solution to poor egg quality, both in veterinary and human medicine.
  • Maternal spindle transfer, commonly known as the “three-parent technique,” involves placing the mother’s DNA into a high-quality egg from a fertile donor, which is then fertilized with the father’s sperm, improving the egg’s quality and increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
  • Following the success of this birth, accomplished together with researchers from Oxford University and Ghent University, Embryotools aims to promote changes in the current legislation to consolidate a legal, ethical and scientific pathway for the use of maternal spindle transfer to prevent mitochondrial genetic diseases and treat incurable cases of infertility associated with poor oocyte quality.

Barcelona, 9 September 2025. Embryotools, a biotechnology centre based at the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), has achieved a new milestone in the field of assisted reproduction with the birth of the world’s first foal following maternal spindle transfer (MST). For ten years, the laboratory has been leading the development of mitochondrial replacement therapies, applying novel and innovative technologies to solve complex problems of infertility and inherited disease. The efficacy of MST in humans has recently been demonstrated with the birth of seven babies to women with severe infertility and a long history of unsuccessful IVF treatments. Now, for the first time, MST has been successfully applied to horses.

This breakthrough marks a milestone in equine reproduction, as it makes it possible to preserve and transmit the DNA of competition horses, whose genetic material could not otherwise be propagated due to infertility. Unlike egg donation, the technique keeps the maternal genetic contribution intact, opening up new opportunities for lineage preservation and species conservation.

“The success of the technique in both humans and horses confirms that this is a solid, reproducible reproductive tool with enormous clinical potential. In humans, it has allowed the birth of healthy children in situations where the only alternative was egg donation. In horses, it has proven useful in mares with a long history of failed cycles, which reinforces its value even in contexts where genetics is especially relevant, such as high-value animal reproduction,” said Dr Nuno Costa-Borges, co-founder and scientific director of Embryotools.

MST, originally used to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases, has proven effective in the treatment of infertility associated with poor egg quality. While MST has sometimes been referred to as a “three-parent technique”, Embryotools rejects the term as misleading and lacking in scientific rigour. Dr Costa-Borges explains that “while it is true that the technique involves the use of mitochondria from a third individual, what is transferred is only a tiny amount of mitochondrial DNA, which represents less than 0.1% of the total genome – and does not contribute to the physical characteristics or personal traits of the future embryo. The entirety of the nuclear genetic material, which determines the biological identity of the individual, comes exclusively from the two parents”. “To suggest that there are three parents would be like saying that a person who has received a heart, liver or bone marrow transplant has an additional parent, which obviously is not a consideration, medically or ethically”.

Researchers at Oxford University confirmed through genetic analysis the feasibility of the procedure in horses and its potential to improve reproduction, especially in animals with high genetic value or reduced fertility. Dr Dagan Wells, a leader in reproductive genetics from Oxford, highlighted the relevance of this advance. “This has been a remarkable and highly successful team effort, combining cutting-edge methods in embryology, genetics and veterinary medicine. The work adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that the MST method, which the Embryotools team has gone a long way towards perfecting, can serve as an effective treatment for otherwise incurable forms of infertility. The technology is likely to have an important role in the conservation of critically endangered species, helping to preserve the genetic diversity essential for viable populations by allowing more females to pass on their genes to future generations”.

In collaboration with Dr Katrien Smits and Dr Jan Govaere, from Ghent University, and Dr Margot Van de Velde from the Belgian Dymart Equine Fertility Center, the birth of this foal in Belgium represents a milestone in the clinical validation of MST as an effective method to treat complex infertility cases, opening up new opportunities in assisted reproduction.

The results of this study were presented last week by Mònica Acacio, head of Embryotools’ equine reproduction unit, at the 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association of Embryo Technology in Europe (AETE), held in Cork (Ireland).

A key tool for lineage and biodiversity preservation

In equine breeding, genetics is everything. Horses descended from champions not only stand out for their performance but have a high market value. For this reason, assisted reproduction in competition horses has become a strategic tool, especially in disciplines such as show jumping, polo, dressage and racing. Its objective is clear: preserve elite genetics and reduce the risks inherent in traditional breeding.

In this context, MST offers an innovative solution for mares with severe infertility, as it allows their genetics to be passed on to future generations even when other methods have failed. The same method also has the capacity to avoid the transmission of mitochondrial diseases, a group of hereditary disorders that are transmitted exclusively maternally through mitochondrial DNA.

The first mare to benefit from this pioneering technique was Flow, a Belgian dressage champion of exceptional genetic value, owned by Anthony Detroyer, who, together with his colleague Davy Van De Moere, breeds dressage horses and runs a private sport stable. “For Flow, we had previously tried numerous techniques without success. While searching for alternatives, we came across a study by Embryotools, which had successfully addressed similar issues in humans. We reached out to them, and a few months later, we set the process in motion. We are overjoyed with the birth of this new foal, a true milestone for both our stable and the future of dressage breeding”, affirms Van De Moere.

The Embryotools team was able to create viable embryos from Flow’s genetic material and donor oocytes from another fertile mare. One of the embryos was transferred to the recipient who, after a complete gestation, gave birth in June 2025 to the world’s first foal conceived thanks to this technique.

This milestone opens up new avenues in equine reproduction for the preservation of valuable lineages in animal husbandry. It may also prove particularly beneficial in the conservation of other animal species.

“Our goal is to continue exploring the potential of this technique and to continue developing studies that will allow us to accumulate solid evidence on its efficacy and safety, since it is a technique that is still considered experimental, although with enormous potential. The success in the animal model of the horse, where genetics plays a key role, again proves the reproductive value of the technique in a context different from the human one, but equally demanding”, said Dr Costa-Borges.

Proven clinical success with the birth of seven babies

In 2023, Embryotools led the world’s first clinical study on MST as a treatment for idiopathic infertility, conducted in Greece. The research concluded with the birth of seven babies from patients with a long history of unsuccessful IVF attempts, affirming this technique’s potential in reproductive medicine.

In light of these results, Embryotools’ objective is to “continue to gather scientific evidence that will allow us to evaluate its efficacy and safety with greater precision, and to move towards its clinical validation with the support of regulatory authorities,” said Dr Costa-Borges. “We are currently actively promoting this work and seeking the support of scientific and regulatory authorities so that Spain is not left behind in this field”.

In the same vein, a recent study by scientists at Newcastle University in the UK achieved the birth of eight babies through pronuclear transfer, another mitochondrial replacement technique that, unlike maternal spindle transfer, exchanges nuclear DNA between already fertilized embryos to combine the donor’s healthy mitochondria with the biological parents’ genetic material. Both approaches have shown promising clinical results and good safety, reinforcing their potential in advancing reproductive medicine.

A consolidated centre with more than 30 years of experience in embryology

Embryotools has a consolidated scientific track record with more than 30 years of experience and state-of-the-art laboratories, which allows it to offer advanced reproductive solutions to breeders worldwide, both to solve infertility cases and to optimise reproduction in high-performance horses. The combination of cutting-edge science with practical clinical and veterinary applications has made the centre an international benchmark in both human and animal reproduction.

Results from the first clinical pilot study using maternal spindle transfer indicate that the technique may have value as a treatment for challenging types of infertility and reveal potential limitations when the method is used for avoidance of mitochondrial disorders

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The results from the first clinical pilot study of maternal spindle transfer (MST) were published online in the journal, Fertility and Sterility, as an ahead of print version of the article. The project was carried out in Greece, at the Institute of Life-IASO IVF Center, and involved a multidisciplinary team of scientists from internationally renowned institutions: Embryotools (Science Park, Barcelona, Spain); Juno Genetics (UK); the University of Oxford (UK); Oregon Health & Science University (US). The exploratory study provides the first insights into safety and efficacy of maternal spindle transfer in humans, when applied in a context of infertility treatment. The study resulted in the birth of six children to patients with a long history of previous failed in vitro fertilization attempts. The article additionally reveals important information concerning the potential use of MST to reduce the risk of disease transmission in patients carrying pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations.


The egg is the most important element during the first few days of life. Not only does it carry the genetic contribution (DNA) from the mother, but it also contains stores of materials (e.g., RNA, protein, energy supplies and organelles) in its cytoplasm vital for the developing embryo. Poor egg quality is a significant factor contributing to female infertility, for which no effective treatments have been developed. The problem is characterized by repeated failure of eggs to fertilize and/or impaired embryo development. Currently, the only strategy available for patients that produce poor quality eggs is to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments using donated eggs or embryos. This approach can help patients achieve a pregnancy, but excludes them from a genetic contribution to their child.

Maternal spindle transfer is an advanced laboratory technique that belongs to the family of methods known collectively as mitochondrial replacement therapies (MRTs). These techniques were originally proposed to avoid the transmission of mitochondrial diseases and their application for this clinical purpose is already permitted in some countries, such as the UK and Australia. The method involves the replacement of the patient’s egg cytoplasm with cytoplasm taken from young donated egg, while retaining the patient’s nuclear genetic material. Accumulating evidence suggests that this process can overcome some problems related to a failure of an egg to support fertilization and embryonic development, while also allowing patients to produce genetically related offspring.

This exploratory pilot study was conducted in Greece after receiving approval from the National Authority of Assisted Reproduction. The research team aimed to explore, for the first time, the clinical feasibility of the maternal spindle transfer technique in a context of infertility treatment. The pilot study started in 2018 and was limited to a cohort of 25 infertile couples that were carefully selected based on their long history of unsuccessful IVF treatments, associated with poor egg quality. The patients had undergone between 3 and 11 previous IVF attempts (average 6.4 per patient) without success. The outcomes monitored in the study included the usual measures of IVF success, as well as other parameters specifically related to the technique, and pediatric follow-up to evaluate the general health of children born following the procedure.

The data obtained during the study is unique, suggesting that the maternal spindle transfer technique might have the potential to help a class of infertile patients that has been extremely difficult to treat with conventional methods. Together, the patients included in the study had undergone a total of 159 previous IVF treatments, in which 423 mature eggs had been collected, but no pregnancies had ever been achieved. A total of 28 maternal spindle transfer attempts were carried out, resulting in the birth of six babies. The health and developmental status of the children (some now close to 4 years old) is unremarkable, providing some reassurance about the safety of the method.

The scientific team monitored the amount of DNA from mitochondria (mtDNA) transferred into the donor egg along with the patient’s spindle and showed that more than 99% of the mtDNA in the embryos produced was from the egg donor. However, in one child born following the procedure the mitochondria from the patient expanded dramatically during development, and by the time of birth had come to represent about 50% of the total in the cells of the child. This is the first time this phenomenon, known as ‘reversal’ has been reported in human embryos. While none of the patients in the study were carriers of mitochondrial disease, the possibility that the small number of mitochondria, unavoidably transferred to the donor oocyte along with the patient’s DNA, could proliferate disproportionately has implications for the use of MRTs to prevent the transmission such disorders. The severity of mtDNA disorders is linked to the proportion of mitochondria derived from the affected patient. The resurgence of a patient’s mitochondria, after they were initially reduced to a tiny population, suggests that some of these treatments might be less than 100% effective.

While the data obtained is encouraging, potentially creating a new therapy for types of infertility that were previously untreatable, the researchers are keen to stress that this was a pilot study, and as such was limited in size and scope. A definitive assessment of the clinical value of the technique must await future larger, controlled and randomized trials.

___________________________
Article identification: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.02.008.

Authors: Nuno Costa-Borges, PhD; Eros Nikitos, MSc; Katharina Späth, PhD; Irene Miguel-Escalada, PhD; Hong Ma, PhD; Klaus Rink, PhD; Clement Coudereau, PhD; Hayley Darby; Amy Koski, MSc; Crystal Van Dyken, PhD; Enric Mestres, PhD; Evmorfia Papakyriakou, MSc; Dominique De Ziegler, MD; George Kontopoulos, MD; Themistoklis Mantzavinos, MD; Ioannis Vasilopoulos, MD; Stylianos Grigorakis, MD; Thomas Prokopakis, MD; Konstantinos Dimitropoulos, MD; Panagiotis Polyzos, MD; Nikolaοs Vlachos, MD; Konstantinos Kostaras, MD; Shoukhrat Mitalipov, PhD; Gloria Calderón, PhD; Panagiotis Psathas, MD; Dagan Wells*, PhD.

Contacts:
Dr. Nuno Costa-Borges
Embryotools, Barcelona, Spain
nuno.borges@embryotools.com

Prof. Dagan Wells
Juno Genetics / University of Oxford
dagan.wells@junogenetics.com

Dr. Shoukhart Mitalipov
Oregon Health & Science University
mitalipo@ohsu.edu

Dr. Panagiotis Psathas
Institute of Life-IASO IVF Center
psath438@otenet.gr

Fifth baby born in Greece using the maternal spindle transfer method as part of pilot trial conducted by the Institute of Life and Embryotools scientific team

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A fifth baby was born using the maternal spindle transfer method, as part of the pilot trial  conducted by the scientific team of the Institute of Life and Embryotools in Greece, on October 14, 2020, at IASO Hospital (Athens). In the context of this pilot trial, this method has already led to the birth of 4 more babies, from women with significant fertility problems and a serious history of multiple IVF failures.

The fifth baby was born to a 33 years old Greek mother, who had undergone nine failed IVF cycles in the past. Because of her poor oocytes quality, none of her fertilized oocytes reached the blastocyst stage.

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Our R&D centre receives support from CDTI to study new strategies to prevent prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities

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The Embryotools R&D centre has received support from CDTI (Center for technological and industrial development) to carry out another innovative project with the aim to study new strategies to prevent or reduce the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities at the early stages of the embryo development.

F15c_Diploma_2377_002_20-200907-CER-RD_001-B66034612

 

Strategies for oocyte rejuvenation: to what extent?

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Infertility attributed to male and female factors affects millions of couples worldwide. Although assisted
reproductive technologies (ART) can circumvent some of these fertility problems, the efficacy of the treatments is greatly dependent on the quality of the oocytes used. Frequently, oocytes from patients of advanced age or with other fertility disorders (e.g, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis) fail to fertilize, produce embryos that arrest during the first stages of their development in vitro or develop into chromosomally abnormal blastocysts. The use of donated oocytes can represent an effective approach to
improve the chances of successful IVF treatment in these patients, however, the resultant children are not genetically related to the intended mothers and thus it desirable to develop other alternatives

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Fourth Baby Born in 14 Months Using the Maternal Spindle Transfer Method as Part of Pilot Trial Conducted by the Institute of Life and Embryotools Scientific Team

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ATHENS, GreeceJune 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Within 14 months from the birth of the first baby, three more babies have been born using the maternal spindle transfer method, as part of the pilot trial conducted by the scientific team of the Institute of Life and Embryotools in Greece.

The fourth baby was born at 10:40 am on June 20, 2020, at IASO Hospital, to a Greek mother with a long history of multiple IVF failures. Both the mother and the infant are in very good health.

 

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Cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos in times of COVID-19: Can the cure be worse than the disease? Risk assessment in the IVF laboratory

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Authors:

Nuno Costa-Borges, Ph.D.1, Mònica Acacio, M.Sc.1, Ivette Vanrell, M.Sc.1, Gloria Calderón, Ph.D.1

1Embryotools, Parc Cientific de Barcelona

Consider This:

Since the state of alarm was decreed in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have gone through an initial skepticism phase that was then followed by the temporary cessation of all activities in the IVF laboratories, similarly to what happened in most European countries. During this period, the different national and international Scientific Societies have prepared guidelines with instructions for reproductive centers, which have been prepared on the basis of the available knowledge about the virus (1-3). These recommendations have been updated regularly and contributed to the evaluation of the possible risks of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to reproductive cells and have helped IVF centers to implement preventive measures. Similarly, governmental agencies such as FDA in the US that regulate use of donor gametes or embryos provided additional guidance for cases where heterologous material is used (4). However, recommendations of additional screening and testing of donors has been quite minimal. Now that many centers are returning to normal activities, there are still doubts in regard to specific laboratory procedures. In particular, one of the most unsettled questions is the potential risk of cross-contamination with SARS-CoV-2 during cryopreservation procedures or the storage of the reproductive cells in liquid or vapor phase nitrogen tanks. In this regard, we consider that it is important to evaluate carefully the pros and cons of each of the measures proposed to avoid unnecessary risks.

Read more : https://www.fertstertdialog.com/posts/cryopreservation-of-oocytes-and-embryos-in-times-of-covid-19-can-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-disease-risk-assessment-in-the-ivf-laboratory?utm_source=user_mailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=send_content_share_for_existing_user

 

Maternal spindle transfer overcomes embryo developmental arrest caused by ooplasmic defects in mice

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Abstract

The developmental potential of early embryos is mainly dictated by the quality of the oocyte. Here, we explore the utility of the maternal spindle transfer (MST) technique as a reproductive approach to enhance oocyte developmental competence. Our proof-of-concept experiments show that replacement of the entire cytoplasm of oocytes from a sensitive mouse strain overcomes massive embryo developmental arrest characteristic of non-manipulated oocytes. Genetic analysis confirmed minimal carryover of mtDNA following MST. Resulting mice showed low heteroplasmy levels in multiple organs at adult age, normal histology and fertility. Mice were followed for five generations (F5), revealing that heteroplasmy was reduced in F2 mice and was undetectable in the subsequent generations. This pre-clinical model demonstrates the high efficiency and potential of the MST technique, not only to prevent the transmission of mtDNA mutations, but also as a new potential treatment for patients with certain forms of infertility refractory to current clinical strategies.

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First foal born in Spain using a procedure which enhances reproductive efficiency and genetic preservation in elite animals

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The first horse conceived as a result of a combination of ovum pick up (OPU) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), two in vitro fertilisation techniques which enhance fertility and enable the genetic preservation of elite animals, has just been born in Catalonia.
• This birth points to the future of equine assisted reproduction in Spain. It has been made possible by a project carried out entirely in the country led by the Embryotools centre based in the Barcelona Science Park in partnership with CREA Veterinaris and Embriones Equino.
• ICSI was developed in 1992 to treat men with fertility problems and is now a routine procedure in human assisted reproduction laboratories. Nonetheless, in horses there are very few laboratories (around five worldwide) that have achieved successful results.
• In 2009, the Embryotools team successfully cloned the first animals in Spain, while in 2012 the centre’s scientists were the first in Europe to achieve the birth of healthy horses after embryonic sex selection.

Barcelona, 2 June 2020. The Spanish Embryotools centre, which is based in the Barcelona Science Park (Parc Científic de Barcelona, PCB) and a pioneer in human and animal assisted reproduction, and CREA Veterinaris, which has over 25 years of experience in equine assisted reproduction, have achieved this first birth in Spain by combining ovum pick up (OPU) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The foal was born on a farm in Viladrau, northern Catalonia, in the early hours of 22 May after 11 months of normal gestation.
This birth is a milestone in the future of equine assisted reproduction in Spain. It was made possible by a collaboration project between Embryotools and CREA Veterinaris in Taradell (Barcelona) along with the Seville-based firm Embriones Equinos, a leading provider of brood mares.
ICSI first emerged in 1992 for treating men with fertility problems and is now a routine procedure in human assisted reproduction laboratories. Nonetheless, in horses there are still very few laboratories (around five worldwide) that have achieved successful results. Due to the specificity of the equine oocyte, we have had to modify the procedure and use a sperm microinjection system with a Piezo system in order to achieve better results while also adapting the in vitro culture system,” says Dr Gloria Calderón, Director of Embryotools.
The process posed other problems specific to the equine species. “The first is that the mares do not respond to superovulation treatments, so we cannot get several mature ova. The second is that ultrasound-guided retrieval of ova by OPU is not easy. Although the mare copes with this procedure very well, it calls for experienced veterinarians and a good deal of training,” points out Dr Guillem Formiguera, co-director of CREA Veterinaris.
The ova were obtained at CREA Veterinaris’ reproduction centre in Viladrau in northern Catalonia. They were then sent to our laboratory where they were matured in vitro and fertilised by means of Piezo-ICSI. The resulting embryos were cultured for eight days and sent back to the farm to be transferred to the recipient mothers,” adds Dr Nuno Costa-Borges, Scientific Director at Embryotools.

A new era of assisted reproduction in horses

One of the great advantages of the OPU-ICSI technique is that only one sperm per ovum is needed. By contrast, in conventional insemination several million spermatozoa are required for one of them to get through the barriers of the ovum, penetrate it and generate an embryo.
Most mares have their reproductive cycle during the spring and summer (the breeding season) in the months of greatest light, and few are reproductively active during the winter. So as Dr Sara Valls, co-director of CREA Veterinaris, notes: “With this technique, reproductive cycles can be extended to times when mares do not habitually cycle and vitrified embryos can be saved for transfer at a later date, as is done with embryos resulting from in vivo insemination programmes.”
This technique also allows embryos to be obtained from mares with fertility problems, and instead of one embryo per cycle, up to five can be obtained per mare every 14 days. “Although we get a high level of efficiency with the transfer programme with embryos generated by in vivo insemination, we saw that with this technique we could get embryos from stallions or mares with fertility problems which we could not do with traditional methods. So we teamed up with Embryotools to deliver this service. ICSI is so efficient at present that it can even be used to produce healthy female embryos, thus maximising the use of semen,” says Dr Formiguera.
The method enhances genetic quality in stud farms because it makes it possible to get foals from the best mares while also avoiding gestation fatigue of mares taking part in equestrian competitions. The technique can be used with any equine breed. However, it will be most sought after by breeders of high genetic value horses who will now be able to use it in Spain and will no longer have to go abroad. This IVF procedure also has great potential in terms of improvement programmes for Spanish purebred horses and elite animals. These techniques are currently in use with demand growing year after year for breeding sports horses in Europe and, albeit to a lesser extent but also rising, for other types of breeds such as the Arabian purebred and quarter horse. Scientists think that this technique also has the potential to recover other wild or endangered species.

About Embryotools
With over 30 years of experience in clinical embryology and human and animal assisted reproduction, Embryotools is a leading centre in this field in the domestic and international market. It was founded by two scientists, Gloria Calderón and Nuno Costa-Borges, both embryologists, who are driven by innovation and excellence and are passionate about the continuous improvement of assisted reproduction techniques.
In 1984, Dr Calderón was a member of the team that achieved the first pregnancy by in vitro fertilisation in Spain, and in 2009, along with Dr Costa-Borges, of the team that first successfully cloned animals in Spain. Recently, in 2019, they achieved the birth of the world’s first baby using a mitochondrial replacement technique in oocytes with poor oocyte quality.
Embryotools’ operations are divided into four major business areas: Quality Control Services to test all types of materials, culture mediums and products used in IVF laboratories; a Training Centre for sharing its experience and knowledge with professionals seeking excellence; independent Scientific and Clinical Advice and Consultancy Services, and an Animal Reproduction Centre, where the most innovative techniques are used to improve the reproductive output of elite animals. ________________________________________________________________________________________ More information: Azucena Berea • Press Officer • Barcelona Science Park • Tel. (+34) 93 403 46 62 • aberea@pcb.ub.c

Patients recruiting phase for the clinical pilot trial on maternal spindle transfer conducted by Embryotools and the Institute of Life is now concluded

Patients recruiting phase for the clinical pilot trial on maternal spindle transfer conducted by Embryotools and the Institute of Life is now concluded

Embryotools and the Institute of Life communicate that a total of 25 patients have been successfully recruited to participate in the first registered pilot trial that is being conducted by Embryotools and the Institute of Life in Greece. The pilot trial has been approved in accordance to the terms and conditions of the Greek Law 3305/2005 and registered in a primary clinical trial registry (ISRCTN) recognized by WHO and ICMJE.

The 25 patients have been selected following the strict inclusion criteria defined in the framework of this clinical research project, which aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the maternal spindle transfer technique as a means to treat infertility problems associated to cytoplasmic dysfunctions in oocytes – which manifest by a “massive” embryo development arrest in IVF cycles with conventional techniques – as well as to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases.

Embryotools and the Institute of Life will like to express their gratefulness to all patients that contacted us and manifested their support and interest in participating in this project. The project is expected to be concluded within the next months and results will be made public after the acceptance of the publications in specialized peer-reviewed journals.