Learn about our aims and research Edinburgh Fertility Preservation (EFP) was founded by a group of clinicians and scientists working at the University of Edinburgh and hospitals within Edinburgh. Our aim is to develop procedures for fertility preservation in children and young adults, usually cancer patients, who are due to undergo treatment which may compromise their long-term fertility. Fertility preservationDue to the improved survival rates from many cancers, there is increasing attention on how cancer treatment can adversely affect the subsequent quality of life. For young people, among the most important of these are effects on fertility. Fertility preservation options are available for some patients; however, for others including young boys there are no such options, with an urgent need for more research. A major component of fertility preservation involves cryopreserving or 'freezing' tissue, and we are the first and currently the only centre in the UK with approval to cryopreserve both ovary and testis tissue. We aim to fulfil both clinical and scientific roles in the field of fertility preservation, with the diverse professional backgrounds of our team making this possible. Our research focuses on the germ cells in these tissues and their development into sperm and eggs Steps of the progression of research at EFP Video explainers Protecting the future - Fertility PreservationIn this short video, Caroline Allen provides background on why fertility preservation treatment is needed and an example of the current research happening within EFP.Caroline Allen finalist entry into the University of Edinburgh three minute thesis competition 2020.Facts presented within this video are from Children with Cancer UK Charity website.Facts and figures - Children with Cancer UK Protecting the future - Fertility Preservation Will I be able to have children after my treatment?In this video, you will be able to learn about ways that research can help boys to make sperm in the future, after they have had treatment that might damage their sperm-making cells.We would like to thank Children with Cancer UK (CwCUK) for coordinating the patient/parent involvement on this project, which helped to shape the animation.This animation is part of a collaboration between Cloud Chamber Studios and researchers at the Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, UK.Children with Cancer UKCentre for Reproductive Health Will I be able to have children after my treatment? Fertility preservation for young people with cancer: The End of the Beginning?Fertility preservation techniques usually involve taking some tissue from the patient before their treatment, and storing the tissue until they fully recover. In some cases the tissue can be used to conceive a pregnancy via IVF, while in other situations tissue is transplanted back into the healthy patient. A recorded lecture from Professor Hamish Wallace, one of EFP's founders, about the impact of fertility preservation. Recorded lecture - Hamish Wallace About our logoThe triskele shape of our logo is a Celtic fertility symbol. Each of the three spirals represents one of the three trimesters of pregnancy, tracing the three-month spiral path of the sun in the sky as it cycles from equinox to solstice and back again. This article was published on 2026-02-17
