Andy Glew People’s Prize winner – Ishe Mutasa

I undertook the Gx Media Study in fulfilment of my MSc in Cellular Science as part of the STP in Embryology, knowing a project of this size would be ambitious to complete during my Masters degree. We set out to use a sibling oocyte model to evaluate whether anti-oxidant-supplemented media could improve blastocyst utilisation rate and clinical outcomes when compared to unsupplemented media across IVF and ICSI. At interim, 71 couples provided 1,119 oocytes which were split between the antioxidant and control media groups, with semen tested for oxidative stress and prepared in corresponding media. No significant differences were observed between the antioxidant and control groups in blastocyst utilisation, fertilisation, or clinical pregnancy rates. Antioxidant media use was associated with a small but significant delay in pronuclear fading (tPNf), however this was of no detriment or benefit regarding clinical outcomes. At interim, these findings suggest that while antioxidant media supplementation influences early morphokinetics, further research with larger cohorts and extended follow-up is needed to provide the data to appropriately power the study.

One of the biggest challenges I faced with the project from inception to preliminary analysis was the scale. From the very involved process of gaining sponsorship from my Trust and garnering ethical approval, to overseeing laboratory workflow and the continuous data entry. This required constant management and prioritisation, only made more difficult alongside full-time clinical training. Participant withdrawals due to non-compliance with inclusion criteria on the day of treatment posed practical barriers with recruitment, which required flexibility in management from the entire laboratory team to ensure appropriate patient care was delivered and study momentum was maintained.

Throughout the study, different departments and disciplines were involved in the recruitment and operation, highlighting the importance of collaborative, multidisciplinary working.

Positively, the methodological robustness was a major highlight of the study, as using a sibling oocyte model allowed for direct comparison of outcomes within a cohort of related embryos, producing high-quality comparative data. Throughout the study, different departments and disciplines were involved in the recruitment and operation, highlighting the importance of collaborative, multidisciplinary working. While the study is only at its interim, delivering a project of this scale and demand is an achievement in itself and part of a longer scientific journey. To me, this study represents not just a research project, but a lived experience in clinical service management, study initiation and execution and prioritisation whilst trying to contribute to an area of research where marginal gains can lead to improved patient outcomes.