Progress

The mitoHOPE (Healthy Outcomes Pilot and Evaluation) Program is piloting the introduction of mitochondrial donation into Australian clinical practice.

Mitochondrial donation is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) that may help people with some forms of mitochondrial disease to have a healthy child.

Under Maeve's Law, two techniques may be used in Australia: Maternal Spindle Transfer (MST) and Pronuclear Transfer (PNT).

Because MST and PNT each require their own licence to proceed, both techniques must receive approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and the Embryo Research Licensing Committee (ERLC) at the following stages:

1. Pre-Clinical Research and Training
2. Clinical Trial Research and Training and
3. Pilot Clinical Trial

As the licensing process takes time, we estimate that the first eligible participants will join the pilot clinical trial in the second half of 2027*.

We know many people are following the program's progress closely. We will update this page as new milestones are reached and further information becomes available.

This page was last updated: 18 August 2026

*The estimated timing of the pilot clinical trial may change depending on licence approvals.

MST licence progress

MST pilot clincal trial pathway

PNT licence progress

PNT pilot clincal trial pathway (1)

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This study is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Medical Research Future Fund (Grant MRF2023189).