In the three decades since the birth of the world's first test
tube baby, thousands of Australian couples have sought IVF
treatment to conceive miracle babies of their own.
With the support of philanthropic funding, our researchers have
launched a groundbreaking new study to compare the health of young
adults born with and without assisted reproduction.
The study received start-up funding from The Jack Brockhoff
Foundation in early 2009, which allowed our team to develop the
project materials and obtain ethics approval for the study.
This work led to a NHMRC grant in late 2009 to fund the study
over three years, enabling the team to expand the project and
recruit study participants including Karissa, 18, and Olivia, 19
(pictured).
Lead researcher A/Professor Jane Halliday said the study would
provide information on the long-term safety of IVF: "There's a huge
gap in our knowledge of what happens to these children when they
reach adulthood and this is something we need to look at,
particularly with the increasing popularity of IVF."
Murdoch Childrens will work with Melbourne IVF, Monash IVF
Australia and the University of Melbourne on the project, which is
expected to be completed in 2012.