Three Decades of Research Into Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
The Wiseman Trust was founded following the loss of Richard and Jack Wiseman to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in 1993.
Since then, the purpose of the charity has remained clear: to support medical research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of TTTS and other placental disorders, and to help provide equipment for the care of babies.
Over the decades, research supported by the Trust has examined TTTS from many different directions.
Early studies investigated the structure of the shared placenta and the abnormal vascular connections between twins. Researchers explored how those connections affect blood flow and why some placental vessels can protect against - or contribute to - the development of TTTS.
Other studies examined the effects of the condition on the fetal brain and heart, developed techniques for measuring placental and inter-twin blood flow, and followed survivors into childhood to understand longer-term outcomes.
More recent research has focused increasingly on earlier prediction. Scientists have investigated ultrasound measurements, placental growth factors, microRNAs and the metabolic profile of maternal blood in the search for signs that may appear before TTTS becomes clinically apparent.
Today, that research journey has reached another important stage. In 2026, a world-first clinical study supported by The Wiseman Trust demonstrated that high-intensity focused ultrasound can non-invasively close the placental blood vessels responsible for TTTS, with researchers now planning a larger clinical trial.
The technology has changed enormously since the Trust was founded. The aim has not: better diagnosis, safer treatment and better outcomes for babies and their families.
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