Clinical Trials & Research Opportunities
Since 2008, nearly 8,000 men and women have participated in over a dozen RMA clinical trials aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Our Research Program
Over the years, RMA has given away more than 1,000 IVF cycles and more than 780 embryo screenings at no cost as part of its research program. This is an investment we make to improve patient outcomes and continue to set evidence-based standards in reproductive medicine. Below you will find a list of our current research opportunities and past study opportunities our patients have been involved with.
Clinical Trials & Research Opportunities
*This clinical trial is only available for patients proceeding with an egg retrieval at RMA New Jersey, Basking Ridge.
Do you want to contribute to the future of in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
See if you are eligible for the VILOCITY Trial which is trying to determine whether the use of a benchtop incubator for embryo culture improves the number of embryos reaching the blastocyst stage (i.e. the stage of development when the embryo is biopsied and frozen) in comparison to a box incubator. While the benchtop incubator is utilized across the country in other IVF labs, our lab has traditionally used the box incubator. At RMA we want to validate the use of the benchtop incubator in our embryology lab through this trial.
What is an incubator? And why is it important for IVF?
The incubator is where the embryo grows and develops in the embryology lab and it plays a critical role in the overall IVF process. It provides the environment that helps nurture embryo growth. There are a large variety of incubator types, large and small with an increasing array of features. Traditionally, large box-type incubators have been used in the IVF lab, but over time, medium and small benchtop incubators have become available.
What is the study?
This is a prospective, split-cohort, randomized controlled trial which seeks to investigate blastocyst formation rates following culture in a benchtop incubator compared to a box incubator. This means that participants’ mature eggs will be split into two groups and randomized to see which incubator each group is cultured in. Therefore one group will be cultured in the benchtop incubator and the other group will be cultured in the box incubator. This is how the researchers will determine if the type of incubator impacts the number of blastocysts that develop. Additionally, the study is double-blind which means that neither the participant, physician or embryologists making assessments will know which eggs and subsequent embryos were cultured in which incubator. It is important to note that the only difference in this study from routine care is the use of the benchtop incubator for half the eggs and embryos. Otherwise, routine embryology care will be performed.
Who can participate?
You may be eligible if you meet specific ovarian reserve testing criteria, have a BMI less than 35kg/m2, are less than 42 years old and desire to transfer your best quality embryo.
You may not be eligible if you have had a prior cycle where no embryos developed to the blastocyst stage, have experienced more than one failed embryo transfer, are using donor oocytes or a gestational carrier, have a male partner with very low sperm counts or requires a surgical sperm retrieval procedure, or require additional genetic testing of your embryo(s).
Contact Us
Clinical Research Team | clinicalresearchteam@ivirma.com | 973-656-2841
*This clinical trial is only available to RMA Northern California patients.
BLISS: BLastulation Improvement by Sperm Selection
Are you about to undergo your first in vitro fertilization cycle (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A)?
You may be eligible for the BLISS study which is trying to determine if there is a better way to select sperm for the ICSI procedure and improve IVF outcomes.
What is ICSI?
ICSI stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and it is a procedure performed by embryologists where a single sperm is injected into each egg in an attempt to fertilize the egg. To select the sperm for this procedure, the embryologist looks in a microscope at the sperm sample provided for the egg retrieval procedure and picks the best-looking sperm.
What is the BLISS study?
The study is looking at a new sperm selection technique that allows sperm to attach or bind (as it would if fertilizing an egg within the body) to the zona pellucida (outer shell) of an immature egg from the egg retrieval procedure. The sperm that bind are selected by the embryologist for the ICSI procedure. The theory is that the sperm that are able to bind may be better sperm to use for the procedure and may improve outcomes.
What happens in the study?
The eggs from the egg retrieval procedure will be split into 2 groups and randomly assigned to which sperm selection method each group receives. Therefore, half of the eggs will receive the new sperm selection technique and the other half will receive the routine, embryologist sperm selection technique. The remainder of the embryo culture process is per routine. If you have at least one normal embryo for transfer, this will be transferred in a subsequent frozen embryo transfer cycle. You will not know which group your embryo(s) was generated from until your study participation is complete.
Who can participate?
If you are less than 42 years old, had normal ovarian reserve during testing and have at least 4 mature eggs and 1 immature egg after your egg retrieval you are likely eligible. There must also be at least 100,000 total motile sperm in the semen sample produced for the egg retrieval procedure.
Contact Us
Clinical Research Team | clinicalresearchteam@ivirma.com | 973-656-2841
*This clinical trial is only available to RMA New Jersey and RMA Philadelphia patients.
Platelet Rich Plasma for Insufficient Endometrium: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Have you been diagnosed with thin uterine lining?
See if you are eligible for the PIER study which is trying to determine whether a uterine infusion of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) helps to thicken the uterine lining in participants who have a history of thin uterine lining.
What is PRP?
PRP is generated from the participant’s own blood containing platelets and other growth factors. PRP is thought to expedite healing and tissue recovery. Since it’s made from the participant’s own blood, it is thought to be well received by the body.
What is the study?
This is a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial which is the gold standard for determining treatment effectiveness. This means that participants will be randomly assigned, like the flip of a coin, to either receive the PRP infusion (intervention group) or a mock infusion of normal saline (control group). This is how the researchers will determine if the PRP is beneficial by comparing it to an inactive or placebo infusion. Additionally, neither the participant nor the primary care team will be aware of which infusion the participant received until after the pregnancy test has resulted.
Who can participate?
You may not be eligible if you have had abnormal development of your uterus, a present uterine defect that requires surgical intervention, require blood thinners during treatment or have a history of or are at an increased risk of blood clots.
Contact Us
Clinical Research Team | clinicalresearchteam@ivirma.com | 973-656-2841