Research Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Genetics

Advanced maternal age (AMA) is one of the major factors affecting the accomplishment of a normal pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART) mainly due to an age-related decrease in oocyte quality and quantity. Embryo vitrification has become an efficient and safer technique for ART outcomes. However, the effectiveness of vitrification procedure on oocytes still needs to be optimized. Furthermore, oocytes from the aged tend to have vulnerable cellular structures and be sensitive to various insults. Thus, we have been working on elucidating the molecular features of oocytes from aged females before and after vitrification to optimize the protocols for its cryopreservation and culture after in vitro fertilization.