Our Lab in Bourn Hall Clinic, near Cambridge, UK

In our lab in Bourn Hall Clinic (the world’s first IVF clinic, founded by the pioneers of human IVF, Bob Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, whose work has led to the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first test tube baby), Cambridge, UK, we study meiosis in unfertilized human oocytes. We work closely with fertility specialists, nurses and the embryology team in order to understand better how immature oocytes mature into eggs, and how aneuploidy arises in this process.

We also collaborate on a number of projects with the main lab at the MPI-BPC in Göttingen, Germany. The main work at Bourn Hall includes micromanipulation of immature human oocytes, live cell imaging using the Lighsheet Z.1 system (Zeiss), time-lapse imaging using an IVF grade brightfield system and immunofluorescence. In addition, our staff in Bourn Hall Clinic is responsible for coordinating samples between different projects and management of the daily operation of the lab, as well as liaising with support services at Bourn Hall.