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Who Is Doing This Study?
Pacific Fertility Center is one of several
fertility clinics worldwide selected to
participate in this study in collaboration with
one of the world’s leading scientists in
reproductive technologies at Michigan State
University.
Why Are We Doing This Study?
During a routine IVF cycle, many human
oocytes (eggs) are produced, but as few as
5% result in healthy babies.
There is currently little that can be done to
objectively determine which eggs are most
likely to generate healthy embryos. After an
egg has been fertilized, doctors can take
biopsies from early embryos or examine their
shape to predict which are most likely to
implant and produce healthy children. But
these methods each have serious limitations– indeed only 20% of embryos conceived
through IVF implant when transferred to the
womb. To compensate for these limitations
doctors implant two or more embryos in the
majority of IVF cycles, but this increases the
chance of having a multiple pregnancy.
Hence, there is a clinical need for noninvasive
methods which give doctors the ability to
evaluate the quality of individual human
eggs. Recent advances in molecular biology
have brought about the possibility of
identifying direct biomarkers of an egg’s
potential. We are examining genetic
biomarkers contained in the cells that
nurture developing eggs, called cumulus cells,
to help identify which ones to choose for IVF.
What Is A Cumulus Cell?
Since the time of birth, the human egg is
surrounded by cells called granulosa cells. At
first, they exist as a single dormant layer, but
as the egg prepares for ovulation, these
granulosa cells awaken, proliferate
extensively and specialize into two functions.
The first type, mural granulosa cells, is
essential for estrogen production and
follicular rupture. The second type, cumulus
cells, is closely associated with egg
development. These cumulus cells establish
a strong bidirectional dialogue with the egg
that will last for their lifetime. It is so
essential for developmental capacity that an
egg will fail to grow in the absence of a
connection with its cumulus cells.
In the majority of IVF cases today, cumulus
cells are removed from the egg and
discarded prior to fertilization. Given the
essential nature of the intimate relationship
between cumulus cells and maturing eggs,
we have chosen to study the genetic profile
of these discarded cumulus cells. We hope
this approach will lead to the development of
the first reliable method of objectively
predicting an egg’s ability to produce a
healthy baby.
What Is The Benefit To The Patient?
Since cumulus cells are regularly discarded
during the IVF process, your treatment will
not be altered in a clinically meaningful
manner. Your participation in this study may
help researchers develop IVF methods which
will result in fewer multiple births and
healthier babies. If successful, these
methods could improve IVF success rates and
reduce the financial, physical, and emotional
tolls on future IVF patients.
The Cumulus-Oocyte-Complex
Since only a handful of fertility clinics have
been selected to participate in this study,
should you qualify, we certainly hope you will
choose to participate. Your participation will
make a significant impact in our ability to
complete the study and get our method in
the hands of clinicians as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions not addressed in
this brochure or in consent materials
provided, please do not hesitate to ask
Pacific Fertility Center staff.
STUDY CLOSED
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