Dallas, Texas – Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, a part of Baylor Scott & White Health, today announces that a baby has been born to a mother who received a uterus transplant as part of a landmark clinical trial conducted over the past year and a half.
The patient and her family have asked for privacy at this time, but they are revealing images of the baby to the world. The images can be seen online:
BSWHealth.com/UterusTransplant
This birth is the latest medical milestone in the uterus transplant clinical trial at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, being conducted through Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.
"We want to thank the family for allowing us to be part of this experience," said Giuliano Testa, MD, principal investigator of the uterine transplant clinical trial at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. "This first live birth to a uterus transplant recipient in the United States was a milestone in our work to solve absolute uterine factor infertility; but, more importantly, it was a beautiful moment of love and hope for a mother who had been told she would never be able to carry her own child.
"It has been an honor to work with all of our clinical trial participants, and today we celebrate their selfless contributions to the program. It is perhaps most important to point out that the transplant and successful birth were due to the organ donors involved. The donors made this work possible, and we want to thank all who had a role in this program."
Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas is among the first in the U.S. to explore uterus transplantation, which is being studied as a new infertility treatment option for women with absolute uterine factor infertility, meaning their uterus is nonfunctioning or nonexistent.
"Our goal in launching this clinical trial has always been to contribute to the body of knowledge on transplantation at a national and international level," says Doug Lawson, PhD, president of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. "This baby, born to a mother who could not otherwise have carried her own child, represents the ultimate success of this program, and we are honored to have been part of this milestone for her."
As a major academic medical center with one of the nation's top transplant programs, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas executes this clinical trial with its multi-disciplinary team of researchers and specialists in transplant, gynecology, obstetrics and maternal/fetal medicine and the support of Baylor Scott & White Research Institute. The medical team has more than 35 years of experience helping women have babies while taking immunosuppressive medications following organ transplantation. The uterine transplant clinical trial is one of many research trials Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Research Institute have conducted. Extending investigational expertise across more than 60 specialties and in over 2,000 active clinical research trials, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute provides the business and regulatory infrastructure to accelerate medical breakthroughs and innovative new treatment models through bench, clinical and translational activities.
Philanthropic support for this innovative clinical trial was provided by Baylor Health Care System Foundation. The Foundation is seeking additional funds to continue this research, which could potentially benefit other women with absolute uterine infertility via this pioneering procedure.
To learn more about this study, including eligibility requirements, call 1.844.BSW.DOCS (1.844.279.3627) or visit:
BSWHealth.com/UterusTransplant
# # #
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com