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Development of non-invasive imaging methodology for improving embryo implantation prediction, via hyper-spectral metabolic profiling

Project description

The metabolic profile of embryos can predict their implantation success

Many reproductively challenged couples resort to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to get pregnant. However, IVF has low success rates, and there is no way to predict the outcome of embryo implantation. To address this issue, the EU-funded HSMe-ImPredict project proposes to develop an approach that links the metabolic status of embryos to their implantation potential. The methodology relies on the non-invasive imaging of a set of metabolites and aims to provide a metabolic fingerprint indicative of implantation success. This is expected to improve IVF rates and spare women of the IVF-related costs as well as the psychological and physical stress of the procedure.

Objective

In vIn vitro fertilization (IVF) is currently widely applied to address the demographic challenge of our society. Unfortunately, only 30% of the IVF transferred embryos implant and develop to term. As IVF procedures have a stressful physical, emotional, and economic impact on families, especially on women, the field is in need of a methodology, capable to reliably assess embryo implantation potential. Metabolism is playing a crucial role in successful embryo development and implantation. Yet, current metabolic measurements are either indirect or invasive and lack clinical translation capacity.
In this proposal, we innovate into the development of an optical methodology based on hyper-spectral imaging of native metabolic autofluorescence and subsequent phasor analysis, for measurement and quantification of mouse embryo metabolism in a fast, direct, non-invasive way. The proposed method has unparalleled advantage in discriminating large number of metabolites (at least 6) in low signal-to-noise conditions, allowing non-invasive imaging and providing direct insight to the embryo viability and implantation potential. We will build extensive metabolic profile libraries and correlate them with the respective in vivo/ ex vivo embryo implantation capacity to determine a metabolic fingerprint characteristic for implantation success. We will consolidate the study into a user-friendly software toolbox, capable to predict the implantation success of a previously unseen embryo.
We envision that in the future, this new methodology can be translated beyond mouse model, becoming a valuable IVF clinical tool. The strong embryology and translational expertise of the host group and their clinical and tech-transfer partners , together with the advanced data processing expertise of the secondment group, will complement my know-how in optical microscopy and image analysis and help me to develop a fully-rounded skill-set of an independent translational bio-tech scientist through MSCA.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 172 932,48
Address
AVINGUDA CARL FRIEDRICH GAUSS 3
08860 Castelldefels
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 172 932,48

Participants (1)

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