Research Highlights

As global pioneers of fertility treatment, the Monash IVF Group continue to excel in the discovery and validation of ground-breaking research to improve the patient experience and increase successful outcomes.

Scientific Firsts

The Monash IVF Group has been achieving outstanding Scientific Firsts since 1958, including the world’s first IVF pregnancy in 1973.

2021Monash Group launched the first at-home genetic carrier screening test connected with a fertility service
2021Monash Group Fertility Specialist became the first Australian elected as President of the World Endometriosis Society
2019Monash Group delivered Australia’s first baby born using PIEZO microinjection technology
2014Monash Group achieved Australia’s first PGS pregnancy from ‘Next Generation’ sequencing
2013Monash Group achieved Australia’s first pregnancy from frozen ovarian tissue re-implantation
2010Monash Group Fertility Specialist became the first Australian elected as President of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) from 2010 – 2013
1999Monash Group achieved Australia’s first birth from a frozen egg
1996Monash Group achieved Australia’s first successful open testicular biopsy to treat severe male infertility Monash Group achieved Australia’s first birth of an embryo biopsy baby using Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
1995Monash Group achieved Australia’s first blastocyst baby after in-vitro maturation of human primary eggs
1993Monash Group achieved Australia’s first single sperm microinjection pregnancies
1992Monash Group achieved world’s first microinjection intrafallopian transfer pregnancy
1989Monash Group achieved world’s first birth following intra-fallopian insemination of spermatozoa from a male with obstructive azoospermia
1988Monash Group achieved Australia’s first IVF surrogate birth (one of the first in the world)
1987Monash Group developed the world’s first sperm microinjection technology; paving the way for the development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment
1985Monash Group achieved world’s first pregnancy and birth from a sperm retrieval operation (for a blocked sperm duct)
1984Monash Group achieved world’s first birth from donated eggs
1983Monash Group achieved world’s first frozen embryo birth
1981Monash Group achieved 15 pregnancies using stimulated cycles in IVF (representing the 4th to 12th births in the world)
1980Monash Group was the first group in the world to use stimulated cycles with clomiphene citrate
1980Monash Group delivered AUSTRALIA’S FIRST IVF BIRTH
1973Monash Group co-joint team achieved WORLD’S FIRST IVF PREGNANCY
1958Monash Group commenced an ovulation stimulation program in Australia

Peer-reviewed Publications

Promoting national and international research collaborations with clinicians and scientists, ensures the continuous output of high-quality publications which have been expertly assessed on concept, methodology and findings.

2022

The metabolic health of young men conceived using intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Catford SR, Halliday J, Lewis S, O'Bryan MK, Handelsman DJ, Hart RJ, McBain J, Rombauts L, Amor DJ, Saffery R, McLachlan RI.
Hum Reprod. 2022 Sep 27:deac212

Exposure to corticosteroids in the first trimester is associated with an increased risk of urogenital congenital anomalies.
Thalluri V, Woodman RJ, Vollenhoven B, Tremellen K, Zander-Fox D.
Hum Reprod. 2022 Aug 25;37(9):2167-2174

An audit of clinical outcomes following ovarian administration of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in women with severe diminished ovarian reserve.
Tremellen K, Pacella-Ince L.
Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2022 Jun 21

Anti-Müllerian hormone is a predictor of medium-term cumulative live birth following in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A retrospective study.
Kien Nguyen D, O'Leary S, Abdelhafez Gadalla M, Roberts B, Alvino H, Tremellen KP.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022 May 272:220-225

Does being conceived by assisted reproductive technology influence adult quality of life?
Hammarberg K, Halliday J, Kennedy J, Burgner DP, Amor DJ, Doyle LW, Juonala M, Ranganathan S, Welsh L, Cheung M, McLachlan R, McBain J, Lewis S.
Hum Fertil (Camb). 2022 Mar 22:1-7

The effect of day 5 blastocyst assessment timing on live birth prediction and development of a prediction algorithm.
Liu Y, Ong K, Korman I, Turner R, Shaker D, Zander-Fox D, Rombauts L.
Reprod Biomed Online. 2022 Apr;44(4):609-616

Calcium chloride dihydrate supplementation at ICSI improves fertilization and pregnancy rates in patients with previous low fertilization: a retrospective paired treatment cycle study.
Popkiss S, Horta F, Vollenhoven B, Green MP, Zander-Fox D.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 May;39(5):1055-1064

Reproductive function in men conceived with in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Catford SR, Halliday J, Lewis S, O'Bryan MK, Handelsman DJ, Hart RJ, McBain J, Rombauts L, Amor DJ, Saffery R, McLachlan RI.
Fertil Steril. 2022 Apr;117(4):727-737

Morphometric and morphokinetic differences in the sperm- and oocyte-originated pronuclei of male and female humanzygotes: a time-lapse study.
Orevich LS, Watson K, Ong K, Korman I, Turner R, Shaker D, Liu Y.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Jan;39(1):97-106

2021

Birthweight associations with parental obesity: retrospective analysis of 1,778 singleton term births following assisted reproductive treatment.
McPherson NO, Vincent AD, Zander-Fox D, Grieger JA.
F S Rep. 2021 May 24;2(4):405-412

Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic conditions: Is cell-free DNA testing the next step?
Rogers A, Menezes M, Kane SC, Zander-Fox D, Hardy T.
Mol Diagn Ther. 2021 Nov;25(6):683-690

Effect of Intralipid infusion on peripheral blood T cells and plasma cytokines in women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment.
Foyle KL, Sharkey DJ, Moldenhauer LM, Green ES, Wilson JJ, Roccisano CJ, Hull ML, Tremellen KP, Robertson SA.
Clin Transl Immunology. 2021 Aug 12;10(8):e1328

Influence of fibroids on cell-free DNA screening accuracy.
Scott F, Menezes M, Smet ME, Carey K, Hardy T, Fullston T, Rolnik DL, McLennan A.
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jan;59(1):114-119

Routine first trimester combined screening for preterm preeclampsia in Australia: A multicenter clinical implementation cohort study.
Rolnik D, Selveratnam R, Wertaschnigg D, Meagher S, Wallace E, Hyett J, da Silva Costa F, McLennan A. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2021 doi:10.1002/ijgo.14049

Improving sperm oxidative Stress and Embryo Quality in Advanced Paternal Age Using Idebenone In Vitro-A Proof-of-Concept Study.
Nikitaras V, Zander-Fox D, McPherson NO.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Jul 5;10(7):1079

PIEZO-ICSI increases fertilization rates compared with standard ICSI: a prospective cohort study.
Zander-Fox D, Lam K, Pacella-Ince L, Tully C, Hamilton H, Hiraoka K, McPherson NO, Tremellen K.
Reprod Biomed Online. 2021 Sep;43(3):404-412

Concurrent maternal malignancy and fetal trisomy detected using genome-wide non-invasive prenatal screening.
Scott F, Smet ME, Hardy T, Sundercombe S, Friedlander M, Carey L, Kirk E, Li B, McLennan A.
Prenat Diagn. 2021 Sep;41(10):1273-1276

Albumin used in human IVF contain different levels of lipids and modify embryo and fetal growth in a mouse model.
Zander-Fox D, Villarosa L, McPherson NO.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Sep;38(9):2371-2381

Differential impact of four sperm preparation techniques on sperm motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation, acrosomestatus, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial activity: A prospective study.
Raad G, Bakos HW, Bazzi M, Mourad Y, Fakih F, Shayya S, Mchantaf L, Fakih C.
Andrology. 2021 Sep;9(5):1549-1559

Comparison of in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection on live birth rates in couples with non-male factor infertility and advanced maternal age: overlooked details-response from authors.
Tremellen K, Vincent AD, Pacella-Ince L, McPherson NO.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Jul;38(7):1889-1890

Live birth in a complete zona-free patient: a case report.
Watson K, Korman I, Liu Y, Zander-Fox D.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 May;38(5):1109-1113

Should we be measuring DNA damage in human spermatozoa? New light on an old question.
Aitken RJ, Bakos HW.
Hum Reprod. 2021 Apr 20;36(5):1175-1185

Comparison of in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection on live birth rates in couples with non-male factor infertility and advanced maternal age.
McPherson NO, Vincent AD, Pacella-Ince L, Tremellen K.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Mar;38(3):669-678

Mitochondria-targeted therapeutics, MitoQ and BGP-15, reverse aging-associated meiotic spindle defects in mouse and human oocytes.
Al-Zubaidi U, Adhikari D, Cinar O, Zhang QH, Yuen WS, Murphy M, Rombauts L, Robker R, Carroll J.
Hum Reprod. 2021 Feb 18;36(3):771-784

Neurophysiology of cognitive behavioural therapy, deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation used in conjunctionwith ART treatments: a narrative review.
Raad G, Tanios J, Azoury J, Daher A, Fakih C, Bakos HW.
Hum Reprod Update. 2021 Feb 19;27(2):324-338

Outcomes following the detection of fetal edema in early pregnancy prior to non-invasive prenatal testing.
Ramkrishna J, Menezes M, Humnabadkar K, Tse C, Maxfield MJ, da Silva Costa F, Rolnik DL, Meagher S.
Prenat Diagn. 2021 Jan;41(2):241-247

Use of a male antioxidant nutraceutical is associated with superior live birth rates during IVF treatment.
Tremellen K, Woodman R, Hill A, Shehadeh H, Lane M, Zander-Fox D.
Asian J Androl. 2021 Jan-Feb;23(1):16-23

Gene selection for the Australian Reproductive Genetic Carrier Screening Project (Mackenzie's Mission).
Kirk EP, Ong R, Boggs K, Hardy T, Righetti S, Kamien B, Roscioli T, Amor DJ, Bakshi M, Chung CWT, Colley A, Jamieson RV, Liebelt J, Ma A, Pachter N, RajagopalanS, Ravine A, Wilson M, Caruana J, Casella R, Davis M, Edwards S, Archibald A, McGaughran J, Newson AJ, Laing NG, Delatycki MB.
Eur J Hum Genet. 2021 Jan;29(1):79-87