clinical research
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility has an extensive research enterprise. Each of our faculty members is involved in multiple research studies. In addition to lab studies, numerous clinical studies relate to various aspects of reproduction and infertility.
If you are a current patient and think you'd be a candidate for participation in one of our studies, please feel free to reach out to your Northwestern Medicine provider or our OB-GYN REI research team for more information.
Actively Recruiting
PREGnant: Pre-IVF treatment with GnRH antagonist in women with Endometriosis – A prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trial To find if live birth rates improve in infertile women with endometriosis who are getting in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer when they are pretreated with an oral GnRH antagonist, compared to pretreatment with a placebo. Developmental Origins of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Very Early Phenotypes During the Mini Puberty of Infancy and Beyond The National Institutes of Health have awarded a collaborative R01 research grant to Christina Boots, MD, and Laura Torchen, MD. The grant will enable Dr. Boots and Dr. Torchen to better understand how and why women are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study is enrolling pregnant women with PCOS and reproductively healthy women for comparison. Researchers will perform a hormonal and metabolic assessment on the pregnant participants in the second trimester. They will perform a similar assessment on their daughters during the "mini-puberty of infancy." If you have any questions, please let our research team know. FRIEND: Fibroids and Unexplained Infertility Treatment With Epigallocatechin Gallate; A Natural CompounD in Green Tea This study aims to determine the effect of low-caffeine green tea extract with 45% epigallocatechin gallate on fibroids, subsequent pregnancy and live births in women seeking fertility treatment. Natural Versus Programmed Frozen Embryo Transfer (NatPro) NatPro is a two-arm, parallel-group, multi-center, randomized trial. Women undergoing frozen embryo transfer will be randomly chosen to get either a modified natural cycle (corpus luteum present) or a programmed cycle (corpus luteum absent). Genomic Predictors of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (GPRPL) The goal of this study is to determine the genetic architecture of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and to discover genomic predictors of RPL. Prospective Cohort Assessing Novel Biomarkers of Early Pregnancy This research will take and store blood, urine and tissue samples from women who come to a physician with pregnancy diagnosed by a positive pregnancy test or by ultrasound imaging. This study aims to determine a better way to diagnose the location and/or viability (chance of survival) of a pregnancy, as compared to current clinical care. PROMISE Study: PROspective Mothers’ and Infants’ Social and Epidemiologic determinants of health To determine if nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and/or stress before a baby is conceived are associated with time to pregnancy or fertility outcomes, adverse pregnancy outcomes or adverse outcomes for babies. Reproductive Tissue Library This reproductive tissue library collects different reproductive tissue that would otherwise be discarded and/or blood samples. Scientists use these specimens to investigate the mechanisms of reproductive tissue by developing tissue cultures and other research works. We are currently working on projects looking at ovarian aging and endometriosis, among other studies. Chronic Endometritis and Endometriosis – Evaluation of a Potential Link Between Inflammatory Conditions That May Impact Successful Reproduction This study aims to determine the prevalence of chronic endometritis among women with endometriosis who are experiencing infertility, recurrent implantation failure or recurrent pregnancy loss. It also aims to identify risk factors for patients with endometriosis who are diagnosed with chronic endometritis. In addition, the study hopes to compare the effectiveness of different treatment regimens for managing chronic endometritis, grouped by patient history. Lastly, the study aims to determine if treatment for chronic endometritis among women with endometriosis improves pregnancy outcomes when data is grouped by the treatment regimen used. Decision-Making Surrounding Fertility Preservation Among Patients Undergoing Gonadotoxic Therapy The objective of this study is to understand decision making related to fertility preservation among women who are receiving gonadotoxic therapy to treat cancer or hematologic diseases. |
Learn more about our research activities via the Feinberg School of Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology research section.
To Request an Appointment
Northwestern Medicine Fertility Center is now conveniently located in four locations: Chicago, Geneva, Highland Park, and Oakbrook Terrace. Visit our Locations & Appointments page for more information. |