Current research projects primarily involve clinic-based research, systematic reviews and basic research.

Clinic-based research

• Association between presences of uterine fibroids and outcome of assisted conception (prospective studies and systematic review) and effect of removal of fibroids prior to IVF on treatment outcome (RCT)
• Antibiotics prophylaxis prior to embryo transfer and its effect on IVF treatment outcome (RCT)
• Study of the effect of demographic characteristics on the reported outcome of IVF treatment (prospective cohort study)
• Factors that affect the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (RCT/prospective studies)
• Utilisation of extended embryo culture to reduce multiple birth (Prospective study)
• Study of progesterone supplementation for management of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (‘PROMISE’, RCT, MRC funded)
• Study of the factors that influence the risk of miscarriage following elective single blastocyst transfer (prospective study)
• Study of luteal phase support using subcutaneous progesterone (RCT)

Systematic reviews and randomised control trials (RCT)

• Study of the value of out-patient hysteroscopy in management of unexplained recurrent IVF failure (systematic review and RCT)
• Study of the different ovarian stimulation regimes for poor responders (‘PRINT’,systematic review and RCT)
• Study of the effect of acupuncture on the outcome of IVF treatment (systematic review)

Basic research

• Development of reliable methods of ovarian tissue preservation that will allow patients who cannot afford to delay their cancer treatment to have an option of fertility preservation within 24-48 hours.
• Biology and reproductive competence of human preimplantation embryos
• Development of new models and tools for assisted conception technology research

The Group

• Dr Yacoub Khalaf
• Professor Peter Braude
• Mr Tarek El Toukhy
• Dr Dusko Ilic