The aim of research projects undertaken at Melbourne IVF is to facilitate and improve fertility outcomes for our patients in all aspects of their care and treatment.

Research projects that are current and future endeavours for Melbourne IVF include:

Reproductive biology research

• Metabolomic profiling of individual IVF embryos
• Cryopreservation of human early cleavage stage embryos
• Human oocytes cryopreservation
• Derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines

Genetic and Molecular research

• Microarray analysis of the chromosome constitution of human embryos
• Vitrification of biopsied embryos

Andrology Research

• The role of protein kinase C, actin and other signal transduction and membrane fusion molecules in the ZP-induced AR.
• Automated semen analysis in the prediction of human fertility
• Cryopreservation of small numbers of sperm for use in cases with limited sperm retrieval
• Analysis of perinatal outcomes for mothers and singleton babies after ART

Clinical Research

• Gonadrotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues for ovarian protection
• Ovarian tissue grafting for ovarian preservation
• The role of psychological factors in weight and weight loss for overweight women seeking ART
• Big Girls Group

Psychosocial research

• Patient experiences in advertising for an egg donor
• The forgotten impact: infertility as a side effect of male sexual dysfunction
• A qualitative study of couples attending the chronic viral illness program
• Prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients presenting for IVF treatment:  A pilot study