FUTURA Utrecht – Future Health and Reproduction Academy Utrecht
reproduction, fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic testing
Research aim
Our mission is to study the origin of life and the factors that affect its development from embryo to adult.
About us
We focus on 3 key domains of human reproduction.First, implantation of the embryo and biological, iatrogenic and environmental factors that play a role.For this purpose we use organoid models for translational research and we work in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The clinical research part on implantation focuses on luteal phase support and more specifically the role of progesterone in all phases of the reproductive cycle.The UMCU reproduction team has a longstanding reputation in the field of luteal phase support and implantation studies.At this early stage of development, we also study the etiology of aneuploidy. Secondly we focus on (female) fertility preservation aspects in children and adults.We study the hypotheses that pre- and periconceptional factors, both genetic, epigenetic, biological and environmental show overlap with the development of chronic disease and cancer and at the same time has an effect on reproductive health. We do this by studying cohorts of children, adolescents and adults in collaboration with the WKZ and the Prinses Máxima Center.Thirdly we are the largest provider of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in the Netherlands and as such we study clinical aspects of PGT (patient experience, ovarian stimulation, predictors of reproductive outcome).The reproductive medicine team is also one of the pioneers in the introduction of “Green IVF”, by studying possibilities of developing protocols for sustainable reproductive care.