Assisted Conception Unit's official opening
Families with children born through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment or following preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) were among the guests celebrating the official opening of the new Assisted Conception Unit on Thursday 23 April 2009.
Professor Peter Braude, Head of Women's Health and director of the PGD programme, said: "We are proud that our success rates for PGD significantly exceed those reported by the European PGD consortium. One in three couples in whom we find healthy embryos after testing can expect to become pregnant using this technique. So far we have provided treatment for over 600 couples and have nearly 200 babies born, making us the most experienced and successful unit in the UK.
Read the ACU press release| on Guy's and St Thomas' website.
Artwork exhibition
The department now has a permanent exhibition of artworks by award-winning artist Gina Glover. Gina completed a year as 'artist in residence' at the Trust's Assisted Conception Unit (ACU). Commissioned by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity|, she produced photographs to bring the work of the department to life. Her artwork now adorns the unit's walls, from its entrance right through to the waiting area and treatment and consultation rooms.
|
Gina spent time attending meetings and consulting staff aboutthe ethical decisions facing them every day, which helped to shape her artwork. In October this year, she was awarded the Royal Photography Society's Hood Medal for her advances in photography for public service.
For more examples of Gina's work please see the websites below:
Winners of the Hospital Doctor Awards 2006
Our team won the Innovations Team of the Year at the Hospital Doctor Awards 2006.
The judges's comment
'This first-class team of scientists and clinicians has received international acclaim for developing a technique that allows more couples whose children would be at risk of genetic diseases to opt for unaffected pregnancies.
Pre-implantation genetic haplotyping reduces test time, improves reliability and spares unaffected males in sex-linked disorders'
Top of page|