Latest news with #ISCI
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
First baby born from robot-controlled IVF in clinical trial
The world's first baby conceived through robot-controlled fertilization has been born, researchers say. The boy was born to a 40-year-old woman in Guadalajara, Mexico, following a previous in vitro fertilization attempt that had produced only one mature egg and no embryos, researchers said. Her newborn was conceived using a fully automated, digitally controlled version of an IVF procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI. Remote operators in Guadalajara and in New York -- some 2,300 miles apart -- oversaw the automated system as it selected a sperm, prepared it for injection, and then injected it into a waiting egg. In ICSI, skilled lab technicians manually inject a single sperm directly into an egg, potentially creating an embryo that can then be implanted into the mother. The process involves 23 painstaking steps, and results can vary between technicians, researchers said. To try to improve the process, a research team created an automated workstation in which these steps are performed under AI control or under the digital control of a remote operator. 'With AI, the system autonomously selects sperm and precisely immobilizes its midsection with a laser ready for injection - executing this rapid, precise process with a level of accuracy beyond human capability," lead researcher Gerardo Mendizabal Ruiz, director of the Computational Perception Laboratory at the University of Guadalajara, said in a news release. For this study, five eggs were assigned to fertilization with the automated ISCI system, while three were fertilized by human lab technicians using standard methods. The eggs came from a 23-year-old donor, and were injected with sperm from the new mother's 43-year-old partner. Four of the five injected eggs in the automated system achieved fertilization, compared with all three in the standard method group. One high-quality embryo fertilized with the automated system was transferred into the mother, who became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy, researchers said. The system "represents a transformative solution that promises to enhance precision, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent outcomes," Jacques Cohen, an embryologist with Conceivable Life Sciences in New York, said in a news release. Conceivable Life Sciences created the automated system and funded this clinical trial. The entire automated fertilization procedure took an average of about 10 minutes per egg, slightly longer than routine, manual ICSI, researchers reported. "We expect to reduce procedure time significantly" as the automated process is further honed, Mendizabal-Ruiz said. Next, researchers plan to validate the system's effectiveness by testing its performance in a clinical trial involving more cases. The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online. More information The Cleveland Clinic has more on intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Shafaq News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan Presidency urges unity amid challenges
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region emphasized the necessity for collaboration and a unified approach, highlighting the importance of avoiding divisions as Iraq faces significant political, economic, and security challenges. In a statement marking the anniversary of the late Abdulaziz al-Hakim, former head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), the presidency underscored the importance of working together during this critical time, noting that Iraq is confronting a series of complex issues, making it more vital than ever to draw inspiration from the leadership of figures like al-Hakim, who always sought to bridge divides and prioritize the nation's interests above all else. 'Today, Iraq is at a pivotal juncture requiring national unity and a shared sense of responsibility among all parties,' the statement read. 'The current challenges can only be addressed with wisdom rooted in dialogue, mutual respect, and collective cooperation, while avoiding the divisions that hinder progress and stability.' Who is al-Hakim? Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, born in 1952 in Najaf, was a prominent Iraqi Shia cleric and politician. He led ISCI, formerly known as the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), and its military wing, the Badr Brigade. Al-Hakim co-founded SCIRI in Iran in 1982 after fleeing Saddam Hussein's regime. Following the 2003 US-led invasion, he returned to Iraq, became a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, and succeeded his brother as leader of SCIRI after his assassination.
