HSMe-ImPredict · Development of non-invasive imaging methodology for improving embryo implantation prediction, via hyper-spectral metabolic profiling

In vIn vitro fertilization (IVF) is currently widely applied to address the demographic challenge of our society. Unfortunately, only 30% of the IVF transferred embryos implant and develop to term. As IVF procedures have a stressful physical, emotional, and economic impact on families, especially on women, the field is in need of a methodology, capable to reliably assess embryo implantation potential. Metabolism is playing a crucial role in successful embryo development and implantation. Yet, current metabolic measurements are either indirect or invasive and lack clinical translation capacity. In this proposal, we innovate into the development of an optical methodology based on hyper-spectral imaging of native metabolic autofluorescence and subsequent phasor analysis, for measurement and quantification of mouse embryo metabolism in a fast, direct, non-invasive way. The proposed method has unparalleled advantage in discriminating large number of metabolites (at least 6) in low signal-to-noise conditions, allowing non-invasive imaging and providing direct insight to the embryo viability and implantation potential. We will build extensive metabolic profile libraries and correlate them with the respective in vivo/ ex vivo embryo implantation capacity to determine a metabolic fingerprint characteristic for implantation success. We will consolidate the study into a user-friendly software toolbox, capable to predict the implantation success of a previously unseen embryo.We envision that in the future, this new methodology can be translated beyond mouse model, becoming a valuable IVF clinical tool. The strong embryology and translational expertise of the host group and their clinical and tech-transfer partners , together with the advanced data processing expertise of the secondment group, will complement my know-how in optical microscopy and image analysis and help me to develop a fully-rounded skill-set of an independent translational bio-tech scientist through MSCA.