Baylor University Medical Center announces first baby born in U.S. from transplanted uterus

Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, a part of Baylor Scott & White Health, today announced 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.

“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 a beautiful moment of love and hope for a mother who had been told she would never be able to carry her own child.”

This birth is the latest medical milestone in the uterus transplant clinical trial at Baylor University Medical Center, being conducted through Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, which provides the business and regulatory infrastructure to accelerate medical breakthroughs and innovative new treatment models through bench, clinical and translational activities.

Baylor University Medical Center 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,” said Doug Lawson, PhD, president of Baylor University Medical Center.

“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 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. Extending investigational expertise across more than 60 specialties and in over 2,000 active clinical research trials, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.

The patient and her family have asked for privacy at this time.

“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,” Dr. Testa said.

Philanthropic support was provided by Baylor Health Care System Foundation, and the foundation is seeking additional funds to invest in the next phase of research, which would potentially benefit large numbers of women via this pioneering procedure.