Review

Implantation of the Human Embryo: Research Lines and Models
From the Implantation Research Network 'Fruitful'
P. Bischof^a, J.D. Aplin^b, U. Bentin-Ley^f, M. Brannstrom^g, B. Casslen^h, J.L. Castrillo^j, I. Classen-Linke^m, H.O.D. Critchley^c, L. Devoto^p, T. D'Hooghe^{q, r}, J.A. Horcajadas^k, P. Groothuis^s, R. Ivell^u, I. Pongrantzⁱ, N.S. Macklon^t, A. Sharkey^d, L. Vicovac^v, J.O. White^e, E. Winterhagerⁿ, M. von Wolff^o, C. Simon^l, A. Stavreus-Evers<sup>i

a</sup>University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland;
^bUniversity of Manchester, Manchester,
^cUniversity of Edinburgh, Edinburgh,
^dUniversity of Cambridge, Cambridge, and
^eThe School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK;
^fFertility Clinic, Holbaek Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;
^gSahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg,
^hUniversity Hospital, Lund, and
ⁱKarolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;
^jCenter of Molecular Biology, CSIC-UAM, Madrid,
^kIVI Foundation, Valencia, and
^lValencia University, Valencia, Spain;
^mUniversity of Aachen, Aachen,
ⁿUniversity Hospital Essen, Essen, and
^oUniversity of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany;
^pUniversity of Chile, Santiago, Chile;
^qUniversity Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;
^rInstitute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya;
^sUniversity Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, and
^tUniversity of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands;
^uUniversity of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;
^vUniversity of Belgrade, INEP, Zemun, Serbia and Montenegro

Address of Corresponding Author

Gynecol Obstet Invest 2006;62:206-216 (DOI: 10.1159/000094005)

  Key Words

• Embryo
• Endometrium
• Implantation
• In vitro models
• Trophoblast

  Abstract

Infertility is an increasing problem all over the world, and it has been estimated that 10-15% of couples in fertile age have fertility problems. Likewise induced unsafe abortion is a serious threat to women's health. Despite advances made in assisted reproduction techniques, little progress has been made in increasing the success rate during fertility treatment. This document describes a wide range of projects carried out to increase the understanding in the field of embryo implantation research. The 'Fruitful' research network was created to encourage collaborations within the consortium and to describe our different research potentials to granting agencies or private sponsors.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Anneli Stavreus-Evers
Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology CLINTEC Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge
SE-14186 Stockholm (Sweden)
Tel. +46 8 585 875 08, Fax +46 8 585 875 75, E-Mail Anneli.Stavreus-Evers@ki.se

  Article Information

C. Simon and A. Stavreus-Evers contributed equally to this work.

Published online: June 19, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 11
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 23