Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

This proposal describes the development and application of a high-throughput sperm physiological motility measurement to: (1) quantify the correlation between sperm motility and DNA integrity; (2) correlate the tendency of sperm to swim near vessel walls with sperm viability; and (3) apply these findings to screen candidate sperm for the clinical application of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The project contains three iterative segments of device development, initial testing, and human sperm based testing, followed by implementation at the OVO Fertility Clinic. In Canada, one in six couples experience fertility issues and each year an estimated 3500 live births involve assisted reproductive technologies, most notably IVF. Current techniques of semen processing and sperm selection are crude and differ greatly from the natural process in vivo. Moreover, these techniques may be ineffective in selecting the best spermatozoa and, may result in iatrogenic damage to the sperm, including the sperm DNA. Sperm DNA damage is associated with reduced IVF pregnancy rates, increased risk of pregnancy loss after IVF, and compromised health of offspring. This project addresses the critical need for a clinically-viable, sperm selection method that avoids technician error, cell trauma, oxidative stress, and DNA damage while reflecting as much as possible the natural in vivo process. This project is a new collaboration enabled through the CHRP opportunity. The project brings together engineering and male and female fertility health researchers, and IVF treatment providers at the OVO Fertility Clinic. This work will lead to: (1) a new understanding of the fundamental characteristics of human sperm motility; (2) sperm transport modes and metrics as indicators of sperm viability; (3) the application of these findings at the clinical-level to the benefit of infertile couples and offspring; (4) new commercialization opportunities for Canadian industry; and (5) highly qualified personnel with the multidisciplinary skills needed to develop next-generation fertility treatments.