Repromed leaves its nest

Health Science

One of the University of Adelaide's most successful ventures - Repromed - has been sold to the Adelaide Fertility Centre Pty Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Since its establishment in 1987 by the University's commercialisation company, Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd (ARI), the reproductive health clinic has helped more than 26,000 couples in their efforts to conceive, with more than 6000 children born over that period.

Speaking for the Adelaide Fertility Centre, Dr Kelton Tremellen emphasized that it would be 'business as usual' for Repromed. The name will not change and staff currently working at Repromed will continue to do so.

Repromed's focus on assisting patients to achieve their dreams of having a child will continue into the future.

Research donations from Repromed have earned the University of Adelaide $20 million, most of which has been injected back into the University's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and more recently the Research Centre for Reproductive Health (RCRH) to promote research in human reproduction and infertility.

ARI's Managing Director Mark Szolga said: "Repromed has been one of our most successful commercialisation ventures, helping more than 26,000 couples to achieve their dreams of having a child".

"The business has also helped to fund research in human reproduction and infertility, which will continue at the University through the RCRH".

During their partnership, the University and Repromed achieved quite a few impressive "firsts". They introduced Australia's first artificial insemination program, were the first Australian unit to achieve IVF pregnancies from sperm injection and from genetic diagnosis of the embryo, and the first to demonstrate that lifestyle interventions improve natural and IVF pregnancy rates.

Repromed was the first clinic in Australia to produce a videotape of a human embryo dividing. It was also the first in Australia to introduce total quality management programs in IVF through ISO 9000 and has pioneered methods to reduce the risks of multiple pregnancy.

Director of the University's Research Centre, Professor Rob Norman, said Repromed was a world leader in its field, achieving outstanding pregnancy rates and very high standards of patient care.

He attributed Repromed's international success to its strong link with the University's Research Centre for Reproductive Health.

Through the Research Centre for Reproductive Health (RCRH) the University will continue to collaborate with industry to aid the practical application and impact of the University's research in the community.

Story by Candy Gibson