Holograms for life: improving IVF success
In a world-first, 3D holographic images of an embryo have been developed as part of a collaborative research project between the University of 新浪彩票 and University of St Andrews. The images are created using miniscule amounts of light in a fraction of a second.听
The team, led by Dr Kylie Dunning, Hospital Research Foundation fellow from the University of 新浪彩票鈥檚 Robinson Research Institute, and Professor Kishan Dholakia from the University of 新浪彩票 and the University of St Andrews, developed an approach to create 3D holographic images of the pre-clinical model of an embryo at various stages of development.听
鈥鈥For couples wishing to conceive, the quality, or developmental potential, of an embryo is critical as it dictates the success of their pregnancy and ultimately, the birth of their child,鈥 said Dr Dunning. 听
鈥淚n vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics routinely assess embryo quality by visual inspection to check if an embryo is developing in a time-appropriate manner or by an invasive biopsy to determine DNA content of the biopsied sample. 听
鈥淗owever, these approaches have failed to improve the success rate of IVF which has remained stagnant for more than a decade.鈥澨