Program seeks Council approval for an initiative titled, “Reproductive Medicine Network Clinical Sites and Data Coordinating Center.”
Infertility, defined as the inability to conceive within one year of unprotected intercourse, affects an estimated 80 million individuals worldwide, or 10-15% of reproductive aged couples. To this end, the Reproductive Medicine Network (RMN) was established in 1989 as a means for the NICHD to support clinical trials that address infertility.
In the most recent re-competition of the RMN in 2013, six awards for clinical sites and one award for the data coordinating center (DCC) were funded that resulted in the conduct of three trials that addressed management of an abnormal pregnancy, effects of lifestyle modification on infertility in obese women and effects of antioxidant treatment on male infertility. However, the need to provide novel approaches for the diagnosis, management and prevention of infertility or of diseases and disorders that impact fertility is still high given the desire of infertile couples to start families.
The objective of this initiative is to support a multicenter, clinical trial research network with the ultimate goal of developing more effective diagnostic, treatment and prevention strategies for infertility.
This proposed concept aligns with the NICHD Vision area of Reproduction.
This proposed concept aligns with all high program priority areas of the Fertility and Infertility Branch, but in particular Early Pregnancy Loss, the Genetic Basis of Idiopathic Infertility and Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproduction.
Program Contact
Louis DePaolo
Fertility and Infertility Branch
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