Mechanical Oocyte Measurement as a predictive biomarker for Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Infertility is a major societal problem and one in six people must use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to conceive.

However, ART success rates remain low (ca. 20%), which represents a significant burden for the patients due to the heavy treatments and high risk of miscarriage.

Recent studies have revealed that the mechanical properties of female gametes (oocytes) are tightly regulated and can change with advancing maternal age (AMA), leading to a higher risk of miscarriage or congenital diseases. Mechanical biomarkers have thus been proposed to score “high-quality” oocytes in ART.

However, their use is hampered by (1) the lack of precise knowledge of mechanical phenotype(s) associated with AMA and oocyte quality, and (2) the absence of appropriate technology to measure oocyte mechanical properties in medical settings.

In MOM-ART, I propose to develop a user-friendly and non-invasive approach for the mechanical phenotyping of oocytes based on an innovative miniaturized measurement system with computational analysis.

I will characterize mechanical phenotypes associated with AMA and/or developmental defects in mouse models to establish the predictive value of mechanical biomarkers for oocyte quality.

I will finally evaluate the proposed microfluidic approach in a reproductive medicine department, in the frame of a non-academic placement, and aim thereby to identify minimal requirements that my approach and device must meet to be applied for oocyte mechanical scoring in medical setting.

This comprehensive and interdisciplinary project will bring significant technological, fundamental, and medical advances in oocyte mechanobiology, directly applicable to oocyte quality assessment and personalized diagnostics in ART. In MOM-ART, I will interact with experts in microfluidics, developmental biology, and human reproduction.

Upon completion of the fellowship, I will have consolidated my interdisciplinary and intersectional profile, which is key for my future career.