Professor Mary Herbert FMedSci

Mary Herbert, Professor of Reproductive Biology at Newcastle University, combines her world-class basic biology with clinical research that is at the forefront of technology in the treatment of inherited mitochondrial disease. Her understanding of the process of meiotic maturation in oocytes, coupled with her development of methodologies for oocyte manipulation, has been essential for the development of the first UK program of replacement therapies for inherited mitochondrial disease emotively termed “3-person IVF”. Herbert’s skills in outreach and communication have played a significant part in persuading parliament to change legislation to bring this technology under regulation in the UK for the benefit of patients.