MATRIX study V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mechanical regulation of human embryo implantation
IRAS ID
356037
Contact name
Alberto Elosegui-Artola
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Francis Crick Institute
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Human reproduction is notably inefficient, with only 40-60% of conceptions resulting in live births among young, healthy women. Implantation failure is a major cause of early pregnancy loss and presents a challenge to assisted reproductive technologies. Studying implantation in a human presents significant ethical and experimental challenges, hence an in vitro (outside of a human) model is necessary to visualise and model implantation and expand our understanding of our current understanding of human embryo formation and development.
To address this gap, we will engineer a 3D extracellular matrix to mimic the endometrium and supports embryo implantation up to day 14 dpf (day post fertilization). This model will integrate the study of both the human embryo and the endometrial environment in a systematic way.
Our in vitro system will be used to study the human endometrium during different phases of its cycle, including the implantation window, which will aid in our understanding of women’s health and its intrinsic connection with fertility.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0312
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion