Descrizione del progetto
Uno studio scientifico rigoroso cerca di segnalare eventuali conseguenze del trattamento per la fertilità, oltre alla stessa fertilità
Un crescente numero di persone si sottopone alla procreazione medicalmente assistita per concepire un figlio. Sebbene tale tecnica possa aiutare i soggetti affetti da infertilità a superare questa condizione, l’impatto di questa tipologia di trattamento sui bambini e sui loro genitori non è del tutto chiaro. Considerando che, ad oggi, solamente mediante fecondazione in vitro sono già nati più di 5 milioni di bambini, uno studio scientifico rigoroso è necessario da tempo. Il progetto MARTE, finanziato dall’UE, sta colmando questa lacuna avvalendosi di set di dati molto grandi e analizzando molteplici risultati a livello di bambini e adulti al fine di determinare quelli associati con il trattamento in questione. Il progetto sarà essenziale per fornire informazioni al pubblico, ai politici e ai prestatori di assistenza sanitaria circa questa decisione di enorme importanza, adottata da un numero sempre maggiore di persone.
Obiettivo
Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) is one of the most important achievements of medical science in the last generation. In advanced societies, the number of MAR treatments increases every year, and, over the last four decades, more than five million MAR conceived children were born, and many more families received treatment. Given this trend, it is a public health prerogative to find out whether MAR affects the well-being of families. Prior findings are mixed and often hampered by low statistical power or conceptual limitations. I propose a programme of research that goes beyond the state-of-the-art by being the first to analyze comprehensively the effects of MAR on children, adults, and families through a combination of uniquely rich data, previously unused research designs, and conceptual innovations. First, in contrast to past work using small or convenience samples, I use extremely detailed and large datasets from population registers and surveys. Second, I compare the impact of MAR on different domains of life by analysing its effects on a range of adult and child outcomes (e.g. physical/mental health, education, union stability), thereby allowing me to investigate trade-offs that have not been previously tested. Third, I use innovative research designs to test whether the impact of MAR is causal by comparing children conceived through MAR treatments to their spontaneously conceived siblings, and adults who successfully conceive through MAR to those who are unsuccessful. The project has the potential to produce ground-breaking results that will impact future research in this field. Moreover, the project will have important policy implications, as its findings will be immediately relevant to health professionals advising couples seeking MAR treatments, to public health authorities allocating resources to mitigate the potentially negative effects of MAR on health, and to policy-makers considering whether to (further) subsidize MAR treatments.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-STG - Starting GrantIstituzione ospitante
WC1E 6BT London
Regno Unito