Ongoing Research Projects:

1, Somatic Cell Haploidization: To develop method obtaining artificial gametes for infertile patients where sperm or egg are absent (or their quality is too poor to be used for reproduction).

2, Lysed Cell Removal (LCR) from frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryos: To improve embryo viability and to increase pregnancy rates in Cryo Embryo Transfer cycles.

3, Implementation of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) in Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer cycles: To extend the potential use of PGD from fresh embryo transfers to cryopreserved embryos.

4, Prospective study on rHuPH20: Recombinant human hyaluronidaze enzyme (Cumulase) is demonstrated to be a superior alternative of the earlier used, animal derived product to decumulate oocytes for the ICSI procedure.

5, Diagnostic value of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) in young, infertile patients: To identify possible genetic causes of infertility related to embryos in patients younger than 35 years old.

6, PICSI sperm select dish: To explore the possible benefit of PICSI dish for Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure where sperm is selected using a naturally occurring physiological receptor (Hyaluronan, HA), in addition to the traditional sperm selection procedures.

7, Oocyte cryopreservation: To preserve fertility potential of women who have medical indication.

• Cryo-damaged blastomeres may be used efficiently for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for the purpose of aneuploidy screening by FISH
  The objective of the present study was to investigate if it was possible to augment the PGD protocol in a way that it can be used for FISH analyses using degenerated/lysed embryonic cells instead of intact/living cells.

• Platelet-Activating Factor (PAF) Study
  The platelet-activating factor (PAF) study has been completed. The average pregnancy rate for gonadotropin IUI cycles is >40%, nearly twice the rate of non-PAF treated IUI cycles. Additionally, we are finding a tremendous improvement in first-cycle IUI pregnancy rates.

• Cryo-damaged single blastomeres may be used efficiently for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for the purpose of screening for single gene defect
  The objective of the study was to investigate if it was possible to apply the PGD protocol in a way that it can be used for PCR analyses using lysed embryonic cells instead of intact cells.

• Relationships between the Sperm and the Hyaluronan Binding Assay (HBA™) and Fertilization Rates In Vitro.
  This study was to determine the relationship between sperm fertilization and the Hyaluronan Binding Assay.

• A high DFI score does not preclude patients from achieving a pregnancy with ICSI.
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between DFI and outcome in patients receiving ICSI treatment.

• Spindle integrity and chromosomes alignment during haploidization of somatic cell.
  Our objective was to study chromosome alignment and microtubule dynamics in the course of artificial meiosis, after transferring G2/M (4N) somatic cell nuclei into GV ooplasts.

• The Sperm Penetration Assay as a Screening Tool for Assisted Reproduction.
  Our study objective was to determine the predictive value of the SPA with pregnancy rates in our IUI program.

• Platelet-Activating Factor Levels (Ligand and Receptor) Content In Motile and Non-Motile Spermatozoa.
  This study was to determine the activity level of PAF (ligand and receptor transcript) content in motile and nonmotile sperm.