A university spin-out has secured £3.5 million to advance a tiny liquid-circuit technology aimed at boosting IVF success rates and making treatments more accessible.
Early data from trials indicate IVFmicro’s device could raise embryo quality and quantity by at least 15%. The system grips an embryo and a small fluid volume inside a microfluidic chip—an ultra-compact platform that precisely steers and mixes tiny liquid amounts through microscopic channels. This approach shifts away from the traditional petri-dish method of fertilisation and places embryos into hair-width channels that mimic the body’s natural surroundings.
The makers believe the technology could markedly increase pregnancy chances while reducing the number of treatment cycles needed, by yielding more viable embryos for transfer and improving the likelihood of implantation. IVFmicro’s funding round was led by Northern Gritstone, a firm that backs university spin-outs, and is chaired by Lord O’Neill of Gatley.
The team behind IVFmicro comprises Helen Picton, the scientific director, and Virginia Pensabene, the chief executive. They launched the project at Leeds University in 2017, recognizing that combining their areas of expertise might unlock a meaningful advance in reproductive science.
Picton, a professor specializing in reproduction and early development, contributed to pioneering work on fertility preservation for women with cancer. Her broader research portfolio includes efforts to help young patients who face potential infertility due to cancer treatments.
Pensabene, a biomedical engineer with deep microfluidics experience, has applied the technology to model human organs for drug testing. She notes that their results show embryos can be grown and developed more effectively than with conventional methods.
Traditionally, embryology involves starting with a small pool of embryos that are fertilised with sperm, where many do not progress to a stage suitable for transfer. IVFmicro’s approach aims to expand the pool of transferable, high-quality embryos and improve implantation success.
Preliminary experiments using large-animal embryos—sheep, in particular—suggest development rates double when the microfluidic device is used, and pregnancy rates rise accordingly. When initial implantation isn’t ideal, the method provides additional, high-quality embryos for subsequent attempts.
Northern Gritstone leads the investment, with additional support from Innovate UK Investor Partnerships on behalf of the government. Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, commented that IVFmicro exemplifies strong northern-region academic innovation paired with a clear commercial strategy to address infertility’s societal impact.
