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Research |
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Assisted Reproductive Technology ResearchSince the pioneering efforts of Drs. Georgeanna and Howard Jones succeeded with the first in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) pregnancy in the United States in 1981, the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine has continued its tradition of cutting - edge basic science and clinical research.
We have active basic science and clinical research programs investigating many areas including ovarian transplantation, improved embryo culture techniques, egg quality, assisted hatching, GnRH antagonists, progesterone replacement therapies, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis ( PGD ). Embryo Culture TechniquesOur laboratory received international recognition for its work with CODA filters used to purify air within the embryo incubator. Use of these filters has dramatically improved success rates. Laboratories all over the world have implemented our "clean" air protocol.Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis ( PGD )The Jones Institute pioneered the PGD procedure and is responsible for the first baby born in the world using PGD to rule out a genetic disease ( Tay - Sachs ). PGD is used for couples who are at high risk for transmitting a genetic disease and involves removing and screening a cell from the developing embryo. Only healthy embryos are replaced in the uterus.Blastocyst TransferWe conducted original research on the transfer of blastocysts in IVF cycles. A blastocyst is an embryo that is cultured to day 5 or 6 rather than the traditional third day. Embryos that survive to the blastocyst stage are hardier and more likely to implant and develop. Fewer can be transferred back to the uterus, dramatically reducing the incidence of triplet ( and more ) births. Blastocyst transfer is not presently indicated in all IVF cycles.Research AreasThe advent of embryo freezing in the 1980s was a major breakthrough for ART patients with more embryos than could be safely transferred back to the uterus during one IVF cycle. Cryopreserved embryos can be transferred in subsequent IVF cycles without FSH stimulation, resulting in lower cost and reduced risk to the patient. More than 70% of frozen / thawed embryos survive and in many cases success rates of implantation are greater than 30%. There is intensive research into how eggs can be frozen and thawed for use in future IVF cycles. Oftentimes, more eggs are produced than can be used in a current cycle. "Unfertilized" eggs are very delicate. They are surrounded by a thin membrane termed the zona pellucida. Eggs are difficult to freeze because ice crystals form and can destroy the internal structures or cause rupture. Also, researchers think that the freezing process negatively affects the mitotic spindle, the structure that separates chromosomes when a cell divides.We have active studies related to the analysis of gene expression during the window of implantation using microarray technology. Also, ongoing studies address the development of new sperm function tests and the impact of apoptosis in human ejaculated sperm. |
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Many of our discoveries led to dramatic improvements in assisted reproductive technology, IVF success rates. For example, our staff identified the correlation between FSH, LH, and estradiol levels on day three of the menstrual cycle with IVF success rates. These tests are now standard in all infertility evaluations. We also discovered that the presence of a hydrosalpinx ( dilation of the fallopian tubes ) caused lower IVF success rates.