The first baby in the UK has been born using a womb transplanted from a dead donor.
The pioneering research is a huge breakthrough for organ transplantation in the UK and could become a regular treatment for women of child-bearing age who do not have a viable womb.
The transplant was part of the Uterine Transplantation in the Human Setting trial which the HRA reviewed and approved in 2015.
Our Hampstead Research Ethics Committee (REC) reviewed the study carried out by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust which was approved with a favourable opinion.
Stephanie Ellis was the Chair of the Hampstead Research Ethics Committee that reviewed the study at the time.
Stephanie EllisI’m very proud to have been involved in the approval process for this pioneering study. It’s always really exciting to see research that we have reviewed succeeding and making a difference to lives.
When we reviewed the research, we were very struck by how much work the researchers had done to ensure the women involved, who after all would be going through quite a stressful time, were looked after.
Our discussion with the researchers took quite a long time as we had lots of questions, but they seemed to like our thoroughness and appreciated that we also saw our job as helping them to do their work.
Being a REC member is a great way of helping to support the NHS by facilitating advances in medical care and treatments.
RECs review research proposals and give an opinion about whether the research is ethical. RECs include a range of people with professional and life experience to be able to make an informed decision on proposed studies.
The HRA is the appointing authority for RECs in England and is one of a number of organisations that work together in the UK to regulate different aspects of health and social care research.