A5017775482- Sperm and Testicular Function
- Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics
- Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Ovarian function and disorders
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Manufacturing Process and Optimization
- Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Particle Dynamics in Fluid Flows
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Organ Donation and Transplantation
- Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
2016-2025
University of Birmingham
2016-2025
Centre For Human Genetics
2025
Birmingham Women's Hospital
2008-2024
National Health Service
2011-2022
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health
2015-2022
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
2003
Mammalian spermatozoa motility is a subject of growing importance because rising human infertility and the possibility improving animal breeding. We highlight opportunities for fluid continuum dynamics to provide novel insights concerning mechanics these specialized cells, especially during their remarkable journey egg. The biological structure motile sperm appendage, flagellum, described placed in context underlying migration mammalian through numerous environments female reproductive...
The migratory abilities of motile human spermatozoa in vivo are essential for natural fertility, but it remains a mystery what properties distinguish the tens cells which find an egg from millions ejaculated. To reach site fertilization, sperm must traverse narrow and convoluted channels, filled with viscous fluids. elucidate individual group behaviors that may occur complex three-dimensional female tract environment, we examine behavior migrating assorted microchannel geometries. Cells...
Additive manufacture (AM) is receiving significant attention globally, reflected in the volume of research being carried out to support commercialisation technology for industrial applications and interest shown by government policy makers technology. The lack distinction between 3D printing AM, as well portrayal some highly publicised applications, may imply that now firmly established. However, this not case. aim study identify current barriers progression AM end-use products from an...
A hybrid boundary integral/slender body algorithm for modelling flagellar cell motility is presented. The uses the element method to represent ‘wedge-shaped’ head of human sperm and a slender theory representation flagellum. morphology specified carefully due its significant effect on force torque balance hence movement free-swimming cell. technique used investigate mechanisms accumulation spermatozoa near surfaces. Sperm swimming in an infinite fluid, plane boundary, with prescribed planar...
Abstract A pre‐requisite for sexual reproduction is successful unification of the male and female gametes; in externally‐fertilising echinoderms gamete brought into close proximity to through chemotaxis, associated signalling flagellar beat changes being elegantly characterised several species. In human, sperm traverse a relatively high‐viscosity mucus coating tract surfaces, there tantalising possible role chemotaxis. To understand human migration guidance, studies must therefore employ...
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process in which allele-specific gene expression dependent on the parental inheritance. Although only a minority of human genes are imprinted, those that have been identified to date preferentially implicated prenatal growth and neurodevelopment. Mutations or epimutations imprinted control centres associated with disorders such as Angelman syndrome (AS) Beckwith–Wiedemann (BWS). Recently, increased frequency assisted reproductive technology (ART)...
BackgroundSperm selection strategies aimed at improving success rates of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) include binding to hyaluronic acid (herein termed hyaluronan). Hyaluronan-selected have reduced levels DNA damage and aneuploidy. Use hyaluronan-based for ICSI (so-called physiological [PICSI]) is reported reduce the proportion pregnancies that end in miscarriage. However, effect PICSI on livebirth uncertain. We investigate efficacy versus standard among couples undergoing...
What information and support should be offered to donors, intended parents donor-conceived people, in general consideration of the availability direct-to-consumer genetic testing matching services?
Biomedical science is rapidly developing in terms of more transparency, openness and reproducibility scientific publications. This even important for all studies that are based on results from basic semen examination. Recently two concordant documents have been published: the 6th edition WHO Laboratory Manual Examination Processing Human Semen, International Standard ISO 23162:2021. With these tools, we propose authors should be instructed to follow laboratory methods order publish...
Throughout biology, cells and organisms use flagella cilia to propel fluid achieve motility. The beating of these organelles, the corresponding ability sense, respond modulate this beat is central many processes in health disease. While mechanics flagellum–fluid interaction has been subject extensive mathematical studies, models have restricted being geometrically linear or weakly nonlinear, despite high curvatures observed physiologically. We study effect geometrical nonlinearity, focusing...
Can flagellar analyses be scaled up to provide automated tracking of motile sperm, and does knowledge the waveform new insight not provided by routine head tracking?High-throughput analysis enable measurement experimentally intractable quantities such as energy dissipation, disturbance surrounding medium viscous stresses, which are possible sperm alone.The clinical gold standard for motility comprises a manual trained professional, with existing diagnostics [computer-aided (CASA)] relying on...
The prolonged lockdown of health facilities providing non-urgent gamete cryopreservation-as currently recommended by many reproductive medicine entities and regulatory authorities due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will be detrimental for subgroups male infertility patients. We believe existing recommendations should promptly modified propose that same permissive approach sperm banking granted men with cancer is expanded other groups vulnerable These include patients (eg, azoospermic...
What effects did treatment using hyaluronic acid (HA) binding/selection prior to ICSI have on clinical outcomes in the Hyaluronic Acid Binding sperm Selection (HABSelect) trial?Older women randomized trial's experimental arm (selection of bound immobilized (solid-state) HA) had same live birth rates as younger women, most likely a result better avoidance with damaged DNA.Recent controlled trials (RCTs) investigating efficacy HA-based selection ICSI, including HABSelect, consistently reported...
The flagellar beat is extracted from human sperm digital imaging microscopy and used to determine the flow around cell its trajectory, via boundary element simulation. Comparison of predicted trajectory with observation demonstrates that simulation can predict fine-scale dynamics at qualitative level. field also observed reduce a time-dependent summation regularized Stokes singularities, approximated leading order by blinking force triplet. Such singularity decompositions may be upscale...
Remarkably, mammalian sperm maintain a substantive proportion of their progressive swimming speed within highly viscous fluids, including those the female reproductive tract. Here, we analyse digital microscopy human in viscous, weakly elastic mucus analogue. We exploit principal component analysis to simplify its flagellar beat pattern, from which boundary element calculations are used determine time-dependent flow field around cell. The is further approximated terms regularised point...
What effect does direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) have on information finding and sharing in relation to gamete donor conception?
Ca2+i signalling is pivotal to sperm function. Progesterone, the best-characterized agonist of human signalling, stimulates a biphasic [Ca2+]i rise, comprising transient and subsequent sustained phase. In accordance with recent reports that progesterone directly activates CatSper, was detectable in anterior flagellum (where CatSper expressed) 1–2 s before responses head neck. Pre-treatment 5 μM 2-APB (2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate), which enhances activity store-operated channel proteins...