Mount Sinai Fertility part of Sinai Health, is an academic centre associated with renowned Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and University of Toronto. All MSF staff and fellows are actively involved in carefully designing and conducting multiple research projects in various areas of fertility to provide the best care for our patients.

 

Research allows our team to better comprehend the ever evolving field of fertility and provides evidence where we base our decisions in providing evidence-based care and treatment for our patients. In depth, we conduct research studies to improve patient care and education, to provide better access to fertility care, and to enhance our knowledge to better care for patients. Our ultimate goal is to better the outcome of patients through increase in implantation rate, pregnancy and live birth rate.

Current Research Studies

We are actively looking for participants for the following studies. If you are interested in participating in any studies or finding out more about these opportunities, please contact the clinical research coordinator, at [email protected] or call at 416-586-4800 ext 7151.

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Angiogenic markers

Objective

To compare methods of measuring angiogenic markers obtained through serum blood vs. trophoblast retrieval and isolation from the cervix (TRIC) and pregnancy outcomes in ovulatory and non-ovulatory cycles to verify its practical and clinical potential.

 

Who can participate?

  • Age 18 to 40 years old
  • Confirmed singleton intra-uterine pregnancy after ovulatory or non-ovulatory frozen embryo transfer
  • Primiparous women
  • Multiparous woman with previous uncomplicated livebirth pregnancy (no pre-eclampsia, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, or gestational diabetes)

 

What is involved?

At 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, you will be asked to insert a menstrual cup into the vagina for 4-12 hours minimum. You will be provided with all the necessary supplies and instructions. You will have an appointment the next day for menstrual cup removal.

If interested in the study, we will offer an additional follow-up obstetrical ultrasound 1-2 weeks later at 8-9 weeks GA. The purpose of this ultrasound is to assess status of the pregnancy and at that time, to perform a serum blood test and collect TRIC samples. However, as this ultrasound is not part of standard care, it will be optional where the participant will still present at 8-9 weeks for serum blood and TRIC sampling only.

At 8, 12 and 20 weeks you will have blood work performed. These will be scheduled with routine prenatal tests or with routine prenatal appointments for your ease.

 

For more information: Please contact the research team at [email protected] or speak with your Mount Sinai Fertility Research Team at 416-586-8888 (ext. 3720 or 7151).

 

Please note that the security of email messages is not guaranteed. Messages may be forged, forwarded, kept indefinitely, or seen by others using the internet. Do not use email to discuss information you think is sensitive/confidential.

The Utility of Virtual Reality in Egg Retrieval: A Pilot Study

Objective

To assess the possible utility of virtual reality as an adjunct to standard pain control practices during egg retrieval. Recent research suggests virtual reality may be helpful in contributing to a more positive patient experience in colonoscopy, wound care, and other minor procedures.

Objective: To assess the possible utility of virtual reality as an adjunct to standard pain control practices during egg retrieval. Recent research suggests virtual reality may be helpful in contributing to a more positive patient experience in colonoscopy, wound care, and other minor procedures.

 

Who can participate?

Participants undergoing their first egg retrieval procedure.

 

What is involved?

Participants will be randomly assigned to a study group to wear the VR headset either turned off or turned on to immerse in passive virtual reality during their egg retrieval procedure. They will also be asked to complete short online questionnaires before and after the procedure.

Want more information? Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our research team for more information about the study at 416-586-8888 x 7151 or 416-586-8888 x 3720 or at [email protected]

IZUMO sperm ligand and JUNO egg receptor-Study

Objective

To study the process of human fertilization through analysis of newly discovered proteins: IZUMO1 ligand and JUNO receptor, which are found on the surface of human sperm and egg, respectively, and were proven to be essential for fertilization.

Who can participate?

Individuals with sperm or eggs undergoing In Vitro Fertilization fertility treatment at Mount Sinai Fertility.

What is involved?

Participants will be asked for consent to have their unused sperm, unused eggs, or the fluid that remains after handling the sperm and eggs (that are normally discarded) to be collected and used for the research. Clinical data, including the parameters of the sperm and the treatment outcomes, will also be collected and de-identified before analysis.

Want more information? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our research team for more information about the study: 416-586-4748

HeLTI Canada Study

Objective

The purpose of HeLTI Canada is to evaluate whether technology-based care can improve the health of families before pregnancy (preconception), during pregnancy, and into early childhood, promote child development, and prevent the development of obesity and chronic diseases.

What is HeLTI?

The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) was developed in partnership with research teams from Canada, India, China and South Africa and in collaboration with the World Health Organization to address the increasing rates of obesity, chronic diseases (such as heart disease diabetes), and mental illness around the world. Four separate studies are being conducted in Soweto (South Africa), Mysore (India), Shanghai (China), and all across Canada and all the studies are focused on improving the health and well-being of pregnancy-planning people and their partners from preconception (before conception) and into pregnancy and the postpartum period. This initiative will help us understand how to prevent children from later developing obesity and chronic diseases and it may improve the health of families in Canada and worldwide.

 

Want more information?

For more information about the study or if you are interested in participating, please visit their website:

https://www.helticanada.com/about-the-study/

Recent Publications

MSF publishes our research findings in leading scientific journals every year. Click on the links below to access full abstract.

Study Abstracts - 2024

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada. Volume 46, Issue 2, 102253, February 2024. Williamson E, Prytkova V, Kohl-Thomas B, Flyckt R, Kim ST, Pereira N, Lindheim S.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2024 Feb 23:102417. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2024.102417. Li A, Mehra VM, Jones C, Selk A, Ray J, Morson N, Cohen E, Roifman M, Snelgrove JW, Greenblatt EM

Study Abstracts - 2023

Gynecological and Reproductive Endocrinology & Metabolism. October 2023. Metjia-Gomez J, Shaltout O, Alkhanbouli M,Shaltout N, Philippopoulos E, Wolfman W, Greenblatt E, Kumar K, Ganesh G, Moore S.

Fertility and Sterility Reports. Volume 4 (1), March 2023: 55-60. Albar M, Koziarz A, McMahon E, Chan C, Liu K.

BMC Womens Health. 2023 Feb 8;23(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02189-3. Drost L, Dason ES, Han J, Doshi T, Scheer A, Greenblatt EM, Jones CA.

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 Mar 2. Li T, Liao R, Chan C, Greenblatt EM.

Invasive Gynecol. 2023 Feb;30(2):89-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2022.12.001. Epub 2022 Dec 6. PMID: 36494070. Motamedi N, Shirin Dason E, Sobel M, Hartman A, Jones CA.

Reprod Biomed Online. 2023 Feb;46(2):410-416. Cantor A, Meng L, Lanes A, Greenblatt EM.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2023 Jan;45(1):9-10. Michaeli J, Shapiro H, Greenblatt EM.

Study Abstracts - 2022

BMC Womens Health. 2022 Dec 8;22(1):506. Dason ES, Drost L, Greenblatt EM, Scheer AS, Han J, Sobel M, Allen L, Jacobson M, Doshi T, Wolff E, McMahon E, Jones CA.

Clin Biochem. 2022 Oct;108:63-66. Ronn R, Bohn MK, Greenblatt EM, Hoffman B, Adeli K.

Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug;118(2):249-259. Jacobs EA, Van Voorhis B, Kawwass JF, Kondapalli LA, Liu K, Dokras A.

Fert Steril 2022; 117 (4):792-800. Mahutte N, Hartman M, Meng L, Lanes A, Luo Z-C and Liu KE.

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Aug;39(8):1693-1712. Ataman LM, Laronda MM, Gowett M, Trotter K, Anvari H, Fei F, Ingram A, Minette M, Suebthawinkul C, Taghvaei Z, Torres-Vélez M, Velez K, Adiga SK, Anazodo A, Appiah L, Bourlon MT, Daniels N, Dolmans MM, Finlayson C, Gilchrist RB, Gomez-Lobo V, Greenblatt E, Halpern JA, Hutt K, Johnson EK, Kawamura K, Khrouf M, Kimelman D, Kristensen S, Mitchell RT, Moravek MB, Nahata L, Orwig KE, Pavone ME, Pépin D, Pesce R, Quinn GP, Rosen MP, Rowell E, Smith K, Venter C, Whiteside S, Xiao S, Zelinski M, Goldman KN, Woodruff TK, Duncan FE.

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2022 Jul;306(1):267-275. Jones CA, Hawkins L, Friedman C, Hitkari J, McMahon E, Born KB.

Bioethics. 2022 May;36(4):388-402. Jones CA, Gotz T, Chauhan N, Goldstein S, Assal A.

Study Abstracts - 2021

Hum Reprod. 2021 Jun 18;36(7):1981-1988. Velez MP, Richardson H, Baxter NN, McClintock C, Greenblatt E, Barr R, Green M

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Jul;38(7):1835-1842. Li T, Greenblatt EM, Shin ME, Brown TJ, Chan C.

J Med Libr Assoc. 2021 Jul 1;109(3):382-387. Bradley-Ridout G, Nekolaichuk E, Jamieson T, Jones C, Morson N, Chuang R, Springall E.

Fertil Steril. 2021 May;115(5):1327-1336. Li T, Greenblatt EM, Shin ME, Brown TJ, Chan C.

Fertil Res Pract. 2021 Apr 30;7(1):11. O'Driscoll V, Georgescu I, Koo I, Arthur R, Chuang R, Dempsey JA, De Franco G, Jones CA.

Study Abstracts - 2020 and earlier

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2020 Jun;42(6):779-786. Arora R, Shapiro H, Liu K, Arthur R, Cruickshank B, Sharma P, Glass K, Baratz A, Librach C, Greenblatt EM.

Fertil Res and Pract 2020: 6- 11. Jones C, Mehta C, Zwingerman R, Liu KE.

JCO Glob Oncol. 2020 Mar 2;6:JGO.2017.009944. Rashedi AS, de Roo SF, Ataman LM, Edmonds ME, Silva AA, Scarella A, Horbaczewska A, Anazodo A, Arvas A, Ramalho de Carvalho B, Sartorio C, Beerendonk CCM, Diaz-Garcia C, Suh CS, Melo C, Andersen CY, Motta E, Greenblatt EM, Van Moer E, Zand E, Reis FM, Sánchez F, Terrado G, Rodrigues JK, Marcos de Meneses E Silva J, Smitz J, Medrano J, Lee JR, Winkler-Crepaz K, Smith K, Ferreira Melo E Silva LH, Wildt L, Salama M, Del Mar Andrés M, Bourlon MT, Vega M, Chehin MB, De Vos M, Khrouf M, Suzuki N, Azmy O, Fontoura P, Campos-Junior PHA, Mallmann P, Azambuja R, Marinho RM, Anderson RA, Jach R, Antunes RA, Mitchell R, Fathi R, Adiga SK, Takae S, Kim SH, Romero S, Grieco SC, Shaulov T, Furui T, Almeida-Santos T, Nelen W, Jayasinghe Y, Sugishita Y, Woodruff TK.

Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2020 Dec;66(6):347-354, Cohen AM, Ye XY, Colgan TJ, Greenblatt EM, Chan C.

Hum Reprod. 2020 Feb 29;35(2):434-445, Lipton JH, Zargar M, Warner E, Greenblatt EE, Lee E, Chan KKW, Wong WWL.

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2020; 18, 59, Russo M, Liu KE and Chan C.

Hum Reprod Open. 2020 Feb 13;2020(1):hoz041. Jordan T, Ngo B, Jones CA.

JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Nov 1;2(11):e1914511. Covelli A, Facey M, Kennedy E, Brezden-Masley C, Gupta AA, Greenblatt E, Baxter NN.

BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2019 Oct 28;19(1):203. Speller B, Metcalfe K, Kennedy ED, Facey M, Greenblatt E, Scheer AS, Warner E, Joy AA, Wright FC, Baxter NN.

Reprod Biomed Online. 2019 Jul;39(1):49-62. Liu KE, Hartman M, Hartman A.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2019 Jun;41(6):755-761. Moore S, Arthur R.

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2019 Apr;299(4):1159-1164. Hilton J, Liu KE, Laskin CA, Havelock J.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2019 Mar;41(3):283-291. Gill P, Axelrod C, Chan C, Shapiro H.

J Cancer Educ. 2019 Feb 28. Zwingerman R, Melenchuk K, McMahon E, Liu KE, Siren A, Laferriere N, Greenblatt EM.

Hum Mol Genet. 2019 Feb 1;28(3):372-385. Choufani S, Turinsky AL, Melamed N, Greenblatt E, et al.

Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2019 Jan 23;17(1):14. Liu Y, Ye XY, Chan C.

J Glob Oncol. 2018 Sep;4:1-7. Rashedi AS, de Roo SF, Ataman LM, et al.

Neoplasia. 2018 Jul;20(7):697-709. Hollingsworth J, Lau A, Tone A, et al.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2018 Apr;40(4):399. No abstract available. Cohen A, Greenblatt EM.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2018 Mar;40(3):293-298. Gunn B, Murphy KE, Greenblatt EM.

J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2018 Mar;40(3):299-303. Goldberg AS, Sujana Kumar S, Greenblatt E, Lega IC, Shapiro H.

Mol Clin Oncol. 2018 Jan;8(1):153-158. Srikanthan A, Amir E, Bedard P, Giuliani M, et al.