Bourn Hall contributes to landmark study on Human Embryo Development and the role of master gene ‘NaNog’

A groundbreaking study led by the University of Cambridge Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research proved that precision genome editing could be used to study the gene function in human embryo development in unparalleled detail. The research revealed that the ‘NaNog’ gene plays a bigger role in the earliest stages of embryonic development than previously understood.

Using a technique called base editing, the team was able to successfully block the NaNog gene from embryo development, and discovered that without it, the cells of the early embryo could not develop into specialised pluripotent cells called the epiblast – which later go on to form the body. This means that NaNog is an essential building block of the very earliest stages of embryogenesis.

This research could potentially help improve IVF outcomes and enable clinicians to learn more about early pregnancy loss in the future. In a press conference to announce its findings, Professor Kathy Niakan highlighted its importance for fertility care, as a large percentage of embryos fail to reach blastocyst stage in clinics. Gaining a better understanding of why this occurs could help to improve rates of embryo development so that a larger number reaches blastocyst stage, helping clinics to improve IVF success rates, and ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.

However, this could only be introduced to clinics following further refinement of the technique, rigorous safety testing, regulation and public understanding and consensus of its application.

The research was led by Professor Kathy Niakan at the University of Cambridge Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research. Members of the team from Bourn Hall were also clinical collaborators in the study, and provided donated embryos, sperm and eggs towards this important research. Here at Bourn Hall, patients have the choice of donating gametes that would otherwise be discarded, to scientific research, in a bid to help advance the science of reproductive medicine in the future. In total, Bourn Hall has contributed nearly 6,000 donated embryos to numerous academic research projects over a period of many years.

In the press conference, Professor Niakan shared that only 20% of fertility clinics in the UK facilitate embryo donation for research. This illustrates how important it is that Bourn Hall continues to play a part in supporting research that helps advance our understanding of fertility science, with the aim of improving outcomes for our patients.

If you’d like to learn more about the findings of this landmark study in full, please see the Nature print here.