Immunological fingerprints of the non-receptive endometrium In IVF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Immunological fingerprints of the non-receptive endometrium In IVF failure: Identifying the barriers to pregnancy
IRAS ID
357748
Contact name
Panicos Shangaris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The immune system plays an important role in implantation/conception and how receptive the endometrium (uterine lining) is to pregnancy. Some patients undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilisation, fertility treatment where eggs and sperm are joined in the lab to create an embryo) experience recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Several definitions of RIF exist, such as three failed IVF attempts where good quality embryos in an otherwise healthy patient still result in a negative pregnancy test. We plan to recruit patients to the RIF arm and healthy fertile controls, to take an endometrial biopsy from uterine lining and a blood sample to study the immune cells present. This sample will be taken in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (the time when implantation occurs, approximately day 21 of a 28 day cycle). We will compare both the numbers and the function of the immune cells present in the RIF group and the fertile control group. Previous studies have looked at blood tests from these patients. In studies that looked at the uterine lining, they have mainly focused on the number of cells present and not if they are functional. We plan to assess the numbers of different immune cells, but also if they are functional by using technology that detects the proteins they express. The aim is to create an immune database to diagnose immune issues and also to identify a target for potential immune treatments. Eligible patients will be under 40 (increasing age affects chances of conception) and otherwise healthy. Recruitment will take place at King’s Fertility and the Harris Birthright Centre. The study participation per patient will be the consent process, at-home urinary ovulation prediction tests, one/two transvaginal ultrasound scan(s), two blood samples and an endometrial biopsy. We expect the study to run for three years.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0227
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion