Monika Ward Lab

eagle-i ID

Resource Type

Properties

1. Resource Description

   Assisted reproduction enables achieving fertilization when normal conception does not occur due to a variety of gamete defects. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the injection of a single spermatozoon directly into the cytoplasm of an oocyte using an injection pipette. This technique has been applied successfully in the treatment of infertile couples and is now widely used as a method of human assisted reproduction (ART). In addition to its obvious role in overcoming the infertility, ICSI is also an excellent tool allowing exploring new venues of reproductive biology. It provides a unique opportunity to examine the mechanisms underlying male infertility by looking into the reproductive potentials of individual spermatozoa. The primary research interest of the lab is to study sperm genetics and function in fertilization in the context of assisted reproduction, utilizing advanced techniques of gamete and embryo micromanipulation combined with cytogenetic and molecular biology techniques, in a mouse model. The overall goal is to explore how the 'genetic composition' of sperm translates on its function in fertilization. The ongoing projects involve: (1) Reproducing subfertile and infertile mice with phenotypes that mimic various human male infertility syndromes to test for ART effects; (2) Studying sperm DNA damage, its origin and consequences for fertilization and embryo development; (3) Examining the function of the Y chromosome encoded genes in male fertility.

2. Contact

   Ward, Monika, Ph.D.

3. PI

   Ward, Monika, Ph.D.

4. Affiliation

   Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine

5. Performs Technique

   Technique

6. Performs Technique

   Embryo transplantation

7. Performs Technique

   In vitro fertilization

8. Performs Technique

   Phenotype characterization

9. Performs Technique

   Embryo culture

10. Performs Technique

    Genotyping assay

11. Website(s)

    http://www2.jabsom.hawaii.edu/DRB/Research_MWard.html