Investigating infertility in patients with loss of gonadal function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating infertility in patients with loss of gonadal function
IRAS ID
248834
Contact name
Channa Jayasena
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Infertility is a devastating condition affecting 1 in 10 couples defined as the inability to become pregnant after 2 years of regular unprotected sex. The UK spends £250 million annually on in vitro fertilisation therapy alone. However, current clinical requirements far exceed the NHS resources available for fertility treatment. Novel tools are urgently required to predict responsiveness of couples to fertility treatment. This would reduce emotional distress for couples with infertility and increase both the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of fertility treatment.
Some patients have infertility due to loss of gonad (egg or sperm) function. In women, this is called premature ovarian insufficiency. In men, this is called azoospermia. Premature ovarian insufficiency is defined as a loss of normal function of ovaries before the age of 45. On the other hand, azoospermia is known as the absence of sperm cells in semen. Currently, very little is known about how infertility due to loss of gonad function occurs, and there is no treatment for affected patients. This causes distress and reduced quality of life. We aim to investigate how infertility due to loss of gonad function occurs in affected patients. Recent research studies show that skin cells can be made to behave like gonad cells (germ cells) in a laboratory. In part 2 of our study, we, therefore, aim to work out if there are problems converting these skin cells into sperm/ egg in laboratory. Studying gonadal tissue obtained from participants who are already undergoing a testicular/ovarian biopsy as a part of their clinical care, will give us a better understanding of the underlying cause of infertility. This work could have tremendous benefits for future patients with loss of gonad function, by identifying future new drug targets for restoring gonad function in affected patients.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1876
Date of REC Opinion
12 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion