RESEARCH
Global leadership in Research
Boston IVF is a global leader in the infertility research space. We pride ourselves on staying in the forefront of scientific research, cutting-edge new technology and continuing to evaluate ways to improve care for infertility patients.
Our Boston IVF team is compromised with clinicians, scientists and support staff who collaborate to conduct our many research trials. Together we aim to improve and advance fertility treatment and technologies that will help the greater field of infertility, both nationally and globally.
Research & Publications
Our research program has produced over 250 peer-reviewed papers over the last 20 years.
Clinical Trials
We have conducted over 100 clinical trials which have led to improved fertility care.
Fertility Advancements
First ICSI/IVF pregnancy in New England, the first baby born in Massachusetts from a frozen egg, and recent advancements in transgender family building.
Our team is recognized nationally and internationally:
Denny Sakkas, PhD: Chief Scientific Officer: Internationally and Nationally recognized with multiple awards, Deputy Editor of Human Reproduction, Committee member of ASRM, ESHRE and IFFS.
Kim Thornton, MD and Alan Penzias, MD: recognized as mentors in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fellowship Awards.
Other awards: ASRM In‑Training Award for research, Best Oral Presentations, Best Poster Prizes, Investigator Achievement Award.
Boston IVF maintains our strong commitment to both basic and translational research, and is supported by clinical affiliations with institutions like Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Patient focused Research
Before you start treatment, your doctor or a member of the Boston IVF Research Team may approach you to participate in a clinical trial or research study. These studies can help further the field of reproductive medicine and help patients in the future.
Boston IVF’s clinical research team including physicians, nurses, embryologists and research coordinators frequently engage in trials offering free or reduced-cost IVF to qualified participants, expanding access and informing best practices.
Some studies may offer free or discounted treatment or medications. Some studies may offer monetary incentive. These studies are entirely optional and declining to participate will not affect your treatment in any way.
Some studies may offer free or discounted treatment or medications.
Some studies may offer monetary incentive. These studies are entirely optional and declining to participate will not affect your treatment in any way.
Multiple well known trials at Boston IVF, such as the FASTT and FORT T studies, made groundbreaking changes to insurance guidelines for infertility treatment. The FASTT and FORT T studies compared prolonged IUI vs. early IVF in unexplained infertility.
These trials influenced clinical and insurance guidelines by demonstrating that early IVF reduces time to pregnancy and overall cost. The STAR trial and current GETSET trials have led the way in identifying which patients benefit most from Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis. Our many retrospective studies also validate in house our approach to In Vitro Fertilization. With studies comparing the use of Conventional insemination versus ICSI and others investigating the use of different patient friendly protocols for frozen embryo transfers.
A landmark study examining non conformances during IVF procedures has become a worldwide reference to IVF laboratories around the world.
Our clinical research team performs independent research on a variety of clinical questions. They also have the responsibility of recruiting patients and collecting samples in support of the basic and translational research programs. Over 1,000 patients per year participate in a wide variety of IRB-approved research protocols.
Meet our team:
Kristin
Rooney
Brian
French
Sara
Mawn
Jacqueline
Fitzpatrick
Key Thematic Research Areas
- Boston IVF’s recent research spans several cutting‑edge domains:
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT‑A and PGT‑M) to improve embryo selection and outcomes;
- Embryo grading and metabolic/viability markers;
- Transgender and LGBTQ+ family‐building outcomes;
- Fertility disparities among minority communities;
- Egg/embryo cryopreservation techniques;
- Diagnosing and managing PCOS, endometriosis, celiac disease, and development of home fertility testing tools.
Embryo Development
Boston IVF is a leader in PGT-A (for chromosomal aneuploidies) and PGT-M (for single-gene disorders), offering high accuracy (~98%) and delivering significant benefits including reduced miscarriage risk and faster time to live birth . We are currently running the GETSET trial to further investigate the benefits of PGT-A.
We have also partnered with genetic testing providers since 2015 to assist in the integration of cutting-edge screening,including Preimplantation Genetic Testing (ie: PGS, PGD) sperm aneuploidy testing, ERA, and products-of-conception testinginto their research.. Our research aims to evaluate outcomes of PGT testing in different clinical contexts to allow us to improve and revise our protocols to maximize success rates.
In particular, Boston IVF has been recognized as a world leader in developing non-invasive methodology for performing PGT-A with landmark papers in the top reproduction journals.
We participated in a pilot clinical trial using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to assess metabolic markers in thawed blastocysts to test whether metabolic imaging helps predict pregnancy outcomes. This novel technique is still being explored as a non-invasive method for predicting the chromosomally normal embryo.
Boston IVF collaborates with leading researchers to investigate why human embryos develop abnormally. Live imaging studies have been able to track intricate patterns of embryo development allowing us to understand methods the embryo uses to remain viable.
Wellness Center
Established in 2006, Boston IVF’s Wellness Center coordinates mind–body support alongside fertility treatment. It provides our patients with counseling, stress management, acupuncture, and nutritional guidance, particularly serving patients with PCOS or diabetes and supporting LGBTQ+ and transfamily family-building journeys (Boston IVF).
Our research through the Wellness Center has documented that structured stress-reduction can help improve pregnancy rates, while also reducing anxiety, depression, and loneliness among infertility patients.
Boston IVF has made patient disparities a central theme in both practice and research. We regularly study fertility outcomes among LGBTQ+, transgender, and minority communities. Their LGBTQ+ Care Committee and DEI fellowship initiatives underscore institutional commitment to equitable access and culturally competent care—accompanied by analyses of racial and socio-economic gaps in fertility access and outcomes.
Our research includes analyses of fertility disparity, value-based access frameworks, and mentorship-recognized research in reproductive justice and inclusion. This translational research directly informs improvements in clinical protocols, insurance navigation, and targeted support for marginalized patient populations.
Patient Care and Women’s Health
While Boston IVF does not currently offer a formal “home testing” fertility platform, our research investigates the feasibility of remote-friendly service models and whether they could potentially replace traditional in-clinic touchpoints. Our research includes the evaluation of more convenient and comfortable options for our patients. such as off-site sample collection.
Diagnosing and managing PCOS, endometriosis, celiac disease, and development of home fertility testing tools.