Leading UK fertility group partners with wildlife biobank to create a brighter future for our planet
Jun 06 2024
4 min read
Fertility preservation science has been pivotal in helping people worldwide start their own families. But it doesn’t stop there – this science is now also being used to protect the wildlife we love from extinction. Nature’s SAFE, a charitable biobank based in Shropshire, is harnessing the latest reproductive science to help save our planet’s wildlife. Now, Care Fertility, the UK’s most trusted fertility clinic network, is part of that journey.
Care Fertility is partnering with Nature’s SAFE to support the development of their biobank through a £5,000 donation and by repurposing a state-of-the-art Geri® time-lapse incubator for their groundbreaking work. Nature’s SAFE focusses on freezing down cells and tissues in a living state through advanced cryopreservation technologies, so that they can be thawed and cultured decades, even centuries, in the future. The scientists at Nature’s SAFE have already successfully thawed out frozen cells from endangered wildlife species such as the cheetah to grow new cells lines and are developing techniques each day to improve this technology. Last year, the charity was even nominated for an Earthshot Prize for their work.
This partnership comes at a critical time, with more species facing the threat of extinction each day. By combining their expertise, resources, and technologies, Care Fertility and Nature’s SAFE seek to make significant strides in the preservation of biodiversity.
Professor Alison Campbell, Chief Scientific Officer at Care Fertility said of the collaboration:
“As leaders in assisted reproductive medicine, we recognise the urgent need to extend our capabilities beyond human fertility and contribute to the conservation of endangered species. Together, we are committed to making a tangible difference in safeguarding our planet’s biodiversity for future generations.”
With this support, Nature’s SAFE will be able to preserve living cells from more species threatened with extinction, including our own UK native wildlife, which can one day be used to help boost wild populations through technologies such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Caroline Dingwall, Fundraising Officer for Nature’s SAFE also shared her enthusiasm for the new partnership:
“Care Fertility’s commitment to reproductive health aligns with our mission to safeguard biodiversity. By supporting individuals and families on their journey to parenthood, Care Fertility directly contributes to the continuity of life, echoing our efforts to ensure a thriving planet for all.
Our collaboration not only presents an opportunity for mutual learning and innovation but also provides much-needed funds for our charity. Together, we can amplify awareness of our shared objectives. By uniting our efforts, we enhance our capacity to effect positive change.”
This partnership is a natural extension of the work done by Care Fertility each day to help patients grow their families. By working together, these two organisations are helping both people and the planet, creating a brighter future for generations to come.
Nature’s SAFE is a charitable Living Biobank on a mission to save animals from extinction by collecting, indefinitely storing, and regenerating reproductive cells and cell lines from endangered animal species. Our science-led charity is setting the bar in cryoconservation technologies, uniting biotech with conservation management stakeholders to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Our work is entirely funded by donations. Please visit www.natures-safe.com to find out more or get in touch via office@natures-safe.com.
With a nationwide network of clinics and over 25 years of experience in delivering world-class treatments, Care Fertility is the UK’s most trusted fertility group. Care Fertility’s teams deliver personalised treatment plans that support patients every step of the way. Care Fertility isn’t just a clinic, it’s a community of compassionate experts committed to helping individuals and couples on their fertility journeys.
Care Fertility offers the widest range of fertility services, in the largest number of locations across the UK. Including, intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF), egg freezing, donor egg and sperm programs, and surrogacy.
Care Fertility’s mission is to make family possible for everyone; through compassion, collaboration, and expertise.
Care Fertility’s teams are dedicated to improving the quality and success of fertility treatment for everyone who needs their help and have led the way in fertility research for over 25 years The scientists at Care Fertility have made a number of groundbreaking discoveries and advancements – and many of these have been global and UK firsts including the UK’s first baby born after blastocyst chromosome screening, and more recently, their award winning artificial intelligence embryo selection model.
Nature’s SAFE, the conservation charity on a mission to Save Animals From Extinction, is expanding its collaborative network having formed an exciting new partnership with Shepreth Wildlife Park.
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