New online resource for reproduction and IVF professionals

Research from the Centre for Genetic Diseases features in a new online resource, designed to educate clinicians about the latest developments in reproduction and IVF.

The Virtual Academy of Egg Health, at www.ivf-worldwide.com, has been established to provide doctors, embryologists, nurses and social workers with up-to-date scientifically driven information.

The educational resource provides reproductive health professionals with scientific content— including peer-reviewed articles, videos and discussion forums—related to egg health and its impact on female fertility.

Professor Justin St John and Tesha Tsai from CGD contributed a chapter on the functions of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA within the oocyte and the embryo.

A video made by Tesha Tsai is also available on the site showing the latest technology developed by Professor St John’s team, of mitochondrial supplementation at the time of sperm injection into an egg.

“In recent years, the role of mitochondria has gained renewed attention due to the fact that autologous mitochondria can be extracted and injected into oocytes to increase their health and viability; it’s a critical new field of study that has driven innovations in fertility treatment,” Professor St John said.

“We think it is important that clinicians working in the world of IVF and reproduction have a clear understanding of the role that mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA play in fertilisation outcome and development.

“There are a lot of myths and misnomers regarding the role of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA in the egg and embryo and the prime aim of our article was to provide clarification and an overall understanding so that when clinicians wish to use new technologies such as mitochondrial supplementation, they clearly understand what they are getting into,” he said.

The chapter also highlights how sufficient copies of mitochondrial DNA contributed to good healthy oocyte quality and development of embryos.

Content for VAoEH is supported by an unrestricted grant from OvaScience.