Tyneside’s Genetic Pioneers: How the NHS changed our world – BBC Published on: 20 June 2018 Ground-breaking work by genetic and medical experts at Â鶹´«Ã½ and Â鶹´«Ã½ Hospitals, housed at the Centre for Life, features in a BBC programme celebrating 70 years of the NHS. On the anniversary, presenter, Kirsten O’Brien looks to the next 70 years and tells the story of genetic medicine on Tyneside. All under one roof at the Centre For Life, clinicians, researchers and entrepreneurs at the Institute of Genetic Medicine and the Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working to better understand our genetic make-up and its links to our health. They feature in on Friday June 29th, 7pm. The International Centre for Life is a science village in the heart of Â鶹´«Ã½. It incorporates an internationally-renowned research institute belonging to Â鶹´«Ã½, several NHS clinics delivering cutting-edge fertility and regenerative medicine, and houses young and established biotechnology companies and the Life Science Centre, which is an award-winning visitor attraction and educational facility. Â鶹´«Ã½ On-site research and clinical work is of huge importance and this is delivered at Â鶹´«Ã½’s Institute of Genetic Medicine (IGM). The Institute is focused on producing high-quality research in the key areas of cell biology, developmental biology research and molecular genetics. IGM is one of seven research institutes within Â鶹´«Ã½’s Faculty of Medical Sciences and IGM’s employees’ work relates to important topics, such as cardiovascular medicine, cancer, muscle disease and endocrinology. Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Specialised NHS genetic services have developed in the United Kingdom as regional centres of expertise, and in the northern region these are which is part of the Institute of Genetic Medicine. Â鶹´«Ã½ Fertility Centre was established in 1991 and was the first centre in the North East to provide IVF treatment and support for patients who have fertility problems. The Centre provides state-of-the-art treatments using highly skilled clinical and embryology staff. It has also gained the reputation for pioneering new technologies that have been adopted internationally. It is the first place in the world to be awarded a licence to carry out a pioneering IVF technique to protect future generations from mitochondria disease. The licences were awarded by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Most couples attending the . Presenter Kirsten O'Brien with Sarah Allison, baby Luke and staff at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Fertility Centre FINDING OUT MORE How can I take part in trials? If you are interested in taking part in clinical trials, we would urge you to let your GP and medical team know. We most often recruit for trials from medical practices and clinics. To find out about . How can I donate eggs? To continue the exciting and pioneering work featured in this BBC programme, egg donation is needed. Many hundreds of women from the North East have come forward to support the research in the last six years, however, more eggs for research are needed by the experts. At Â鶹´«Ã½ Fertility Centre, you can consider donating eggs for one of the following options: 1. Egg donation for research: To help advance science and research2. Egg donation for treatment: To help women and couples who are unable to use their own eggs to have children3. Mitochondrial donation: To help women who have serious genetic condition such as mitochondrial disease carrying faulty genes in their mitochondria (batteries of the cells) have healthy babies free of this mutation. Am I eligible to donate eggs?1. Are you between 18-35 years of age?2. Are you generally fit and healthy?3. If you know your height and weight then is your body mass index ≤ 30?If you have answered yes to all of the above, then you may be suitable to be considered for being an egg donor. To be contacted with more information call 0191 2138213 and ask to speak to egg donor co-ordinator or fill in this form Egg donation is done on a voluntary and altruistic basis and under HFEA legislation you will be entitled to maximum compensation of £750 to cover expenses. Further information can be found on the Further information on . Mitochondria treatment Experts at Â鶹´«Ã½ and Â鶹´«Ã½ Hospitals pioneered the IVF-based technique to help patients who risk transmitting mitochondrial disease to their children. The Â鶹´«Ã½ Fertility Centre is the first place in the world to be awarded a licence to carry out the by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. This world-leading work featured in the programme – however, to be clear, no family receiving the treatment appeared in the BBC’s documentary. The baby featured was not conceived using the pioneering mitochondria IVF technique. Those working at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Fertility Centre, part of the Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are pleased to now offer Mitochondrial Replacement as an HFEA-licenced clinical treatment. However, the Trust takes patient confidentiality very seriously and therefore won’t comment on an individual’s care, or on the progress of the treatment programme. Studying or working with us If you would like to work or study in this exciting environment, find out more about our courses on genetics and medicine. Donate to the work To find out more and donate to the work featured on saving the lives of babies born with no immune system, see the . If you would like to make a donation to help further this life-improving research at Â鶹´«Ã½’s Institute of Genetic Medicine please email Advancement Share: Latest News Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Student leader drives misogyny law change A Â鶹´«Ã½ student leader has helped change the law after creating a petition to make misogyny a hate crime, which gathered over 114,000 signatures, prompting action in Parliament. published on: 12 June 2026 Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ see construction of new Castle Leazes The Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ and other key stakeholders have become an indelible part of new student accommodation at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Castle Leazes. published on: 12 June 2026 Facts and figures
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