Instituto Bernabeu presents its research on microbiome and pharmacogenetics in assisted reproduction at the 7th Egyptian Congress on Assisted Reproduction

As a leading clinic and for its commitment to research, Instituto Bernabeu has been invited to participate in the 7th Upper Egypt Assisted Reproduction Conference, held in Egypt from February 13^th to 17^th. Dr Belén Lledó, Instituto Bernabeu Biotech’s scientific director, attended the international meeting with presentations on the microbiome involvement in fertility and the role of pharmacogenetics in the treatments personalisation. These are studies in which Instituto Bernabeu has developed several scientific studies and is at the forefront.  

In her talk on Microbiome and infertility, Dr Lledó explained the relationship between the vaginal and endometrial microbiota in the results of assisted reproduction treatments, and in the evolution of pregnancy and childbirth. The expert detailed the various research studies presented by Instituto Bernabeu in recent years at national and international conferences and congresses. “This presentation has aroused great interest among other specialists who wanted to know how the altered microbiome can influence the results,” explains the expert, who participated in this meeting with more than a thousand professionals from all over the world in reproductive medicine.

Another of the studies in which the clinic’s research role stands out, is in the application of the most appropriate drugs according to each patient’s genetic factors. With the presentation Pharmacogenetics in ovarian response to individualise treatments, Dr Lledó discussed how knowing the particular genetic components of a person can explain the response to certain drugs and thus offer personalised medicine. 

After her talk, Dr Lledó explained how the participants highlighted the importance of personalised medicine and the application of pharmacogenetic profiles in the day-to-day work of other specialties. And “we, at the Instituto Bernabeu have been on this path for years” and also highlighted the interest her talk has aroused “to improve the prognosis of patients with a low response”. 

In this line, Instituto Bernabeu has developed genetic studies to improve the ovarian reserve, which is essential for a successful assisted reproduction treatment. Thanks to IBgen IVF, researchers have searched for the genes involved in ovarian reserve, not only to diagnose it, but also to determine the medication to which the patient responds best. Pharmacogenetics has also proved to be very useful in cases of implantation failure and repeated miscarriage, and at the last ESHRE congress in Milan, Instituto Bernabeu addressed the important role it plays in adjuvant therapies, those applied as complementary after the main treatment.