Chinese University doctors have discovered that infertile women lack the necessary genetic process in their uterus which makes them unable to conceive even if they use in-vitro fertilization.
The new cause of implantation failure does not only solve one of the long-standing mysteries of human reproduction but also sheds new light on the cause of miscarriages and low success rate of test-tube baby techniques.
It also opens a new way for diagnosing infertility and contraception - or even an anti-pill that will reverse infertility, said Chan Hsiao-chang, Li Ka Shing professor of physiology and director of Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre at the university.
The ground-breaking study, published in last month's issue of Nature Medicine, came ahead of the grand opening ceremony yesterday of the Lo Kwee- Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, as the university stakes its claim to be the leader in biomedical research in the SAR.
Chan said for pregnancy to occur, women need to have an epithelial sodium channel in their uterus as an initial starting point. Without that channel, women cannot have the embryo implanted in their womb.
The next step we propose is to have an infertility diagnostic tool. The other one could be the target for contraception by targeting the channel to prevent pregnancy, she said.
Director of the School of Biomedical Sciences professor Chan Wai-yee said the discovery of this sodium channel could also be used to find an anti- contraceptive pill for women to conceive.
Patents have been filed for the discovery but the university still has to find interested companies to take it further. However, the center will focus on cutting-edge technologies to study cancer and inflammation, neuro-degeneration and reproduction, thanks to a HK$150 million donation by Vitasoy founder Lo Kwee-seong, Chan Wai-yee said.
Dean of Medicine Fok Tai-fai said: Corporate support of research is important. There is nothing unethical in itself unless there is ulterior motive. (The Standard)
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Why Some Women Fail To Give Birth
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