Research & Training

At Merrion Fertility Clinic, research and education are at the heart of what we do. By continually investing in research, we aim to improve fertility treatments and achieve better outcomes for our patients.

We are also committed to teaching and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals. This includes working with medical and nursing students, hospital doctors, consultants, and general practitioners to share knowledge and best practices in reproductive medicine.

Research, Teaching & Professional Development

Our clinic offers advanced training programmes, including a Clinical Fellowship (MD) in reproductive medicine, and we welcome PhD and MSc students as part of their specialist training. We also host regular teaching sessions and seminars for healthcare professionals.

In partnership with the National Maternity Hospital, we are proud to be accredited by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) as a recognised training centre in reproductive medicine and surgery. This means that doctors who train with us can go on to achieve European certification in this specialised field.

We are also recognised by the British Fertility Society as a training centre for infertility care and assisted reproductive technologies.

Pictured: Dr David Crosby, Clinical Director and Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

Louise Glover, PhD – Head of Research

Dr. Glover joined Merrion Fertility Clinic as Research Officer in 2017, and she holds adjunct Assistant Professor/Clinical Lecturer positions at both Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.

Following her PhD studies, Dr. Glover completed postdoctoral training in Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado. She has served in the role of Principle Investigator and Co-investigator on several international projects funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Glover holds active memberships to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the British Fertility Society. Her primary research focus is reproductive immunology, in particular how immune pathways in the endometrium are altered in infertility.

Research Studies

Research at Merrion Fertility Clinic is aimed at improving knowledge, expertise and care pathways in the field of reproductive medicine. Our research spans a range of topics, from the basic biology of infertility to identification of new clinical biomarkers.

Merrion Fertility Clinic has established strong links with several of Ireland’s top research institutions, including University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. Merrion Fertility is also a member of the UCD Perinatal Research Centre at the National Maternity Hospital.

Are you interested in participating in one of our studies?

Please speak to your doctor or nurse to see if you are eligible. For more information, please email: research@merrionfertility.ie

The role of the endometrium in implantation

Failure of the embryo to properly implant in the uterus is a likely major cause of infertility, and may account for up to 50% of failed IVF cycles. Merrion Fertility Clinic works closely with the Comparative Immunology Group at TCD to study immune factors in the uterine lining (endometrium) that influence embryo implantation in unexplained infertility and infertility related to endometriosis.

Using Next-Generation sequencing, our researchers are also analyzing endometrial molecular signatures that are associated with successful embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy and livebirth outcomes after ART. This work is funded by the Grant for Fertility Innovation (Merck).

In collaboration with investigators in UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, Merrion Fertility researchers are studying non-invasive markers of egg and embryo quality. The goal of this research is being able to better predict how well an oocyte or embryo can develop into a successful pregnancy.

Merrion Fertility Clinic researchers are investigating ways to improve diagnostic and treatment options in male infertility, including advanced techniques for improved sperm selection and studies of environmental factors that may impact sperm health (in collaboration with UCD School of Public Health)

Merrion Fertility researchers continually engage with patients, the general public and healthcare professionals to investigate knowledge and attitudes towards fertility testing, assisted reproduction treatment and fertility preservation.

A partnership between the Irish Cancer Society, Children’s Health Ireland and Merrion Fertility Clinic provides access to funded fertility preservation for young people diagnosed with cancer (Irish Cancer Society Fertility Project | Irish Cancer). Parallel to this, Merrion Fertility Clinic conducts research to improve service provision and information available for patients, their parents and doctors alike.

Merrion Fertility Research Publications

View Publication Archive

Contribution of endometrial microbiome to inflammation-mediated infertility in women undergoing ART (Link)

Trends in Semen Quality: A Contrasting Perspective From a Single-Centre Review in Ireland (Link)

Fertility stimulation protocols in women with cancer (Link)

Perspectives of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the Use of Weight Loss Medications (Link)

An Investigation into Fertility Awareness and Attitudes amongst Midwives and Nurses (Link)

In the era of direct-to-consumer ovarian reserve tests, General Practitioners desire more education on these tests (Link)

Patient perceptions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in fertility treatment (Link)

Fertility stimulation protocols in women with cancer (Link)

Perspectives of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the Use of Weight Loss Medications (Link)

An Investigation into Fertility Awareness and Attitudes amongst Midwives and Nurses (Link)

In the era of direct-to-consumer ovarian reserve tests, General Practitioners desire more education on these tests (Link)

Patient perceptions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in fertility treatment (Link)

A 2 year follow up study of ovarian reserve in female survivors of childhood cancer (Link)

N-glycans from serum IgG and total serum glycoproteins specific for endometriosis (Link)

Assisted human reproduction legislation: Listening to the voice of patients (Link)

Assisted human reproduction legislation: Acknowledging the voice of health care professionals (Link)

COVID-19 Vaccine and Fertility: The Male Perspective (Link)

Mid-luteal uterine artery Doppler indices in the prediction of pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women undergoing assisted reproduction (Link)

Managing endometrioma to optimize future fertility (Link)

Irish fertility patients’ attitudes to pregnancy and risk mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic (Link)

The impact of accurately timed mid-luteal endometrial injury in nulligravid women undergoing their first or second embryo transfer (Link)

Novel diagnostic options for endometriosis – Based on the glycome and microbiome (Link)

COVID -19 vaccine – can it affect fertility? (Link)

Fertility on ice: an overview of fertility preservation for children and adolescents with cancer (Link)

Dysregulation of the interleukin -17A pathway in endometrial tissue from women with unexplained infertility affects pregnancy outcome following assisted reproductive treatment (Link)

Fertility Preservation in Adolescent Males (Link)

Oophorectomy for Fertility Preservation (Link)

“So what happens next?” exploring the psychological and emotional impact of anti-Mullerian hormone testing (Link)

Professional Memberships

Our clinical, nursing and scientific teams are active members of the following professional associations:

British Fertility Society (BFS)
Irish Clinical Embryologists (ICE)
Irish Cancer Society
Senior Infertility Nurses Group (SING) UK
Sharing Best Practice Nurses Group
European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (IOG)