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Study of Assisted Reproductive Technology (START) – Epigenic mechanisms

Project

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Updated

The main aim of the project is to understand health consequences of subfertility in women and men, and to examine how genetic influences and epigenetic differences are associated with subfertility and the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Summary

Fertility has changed in the industrialized countries in recent decades. One of the changes is that the population is having children at an older age and there is increased use of assisted reproduction (ART). In order to examine the health consequences of ART for parents and children, this study will use questionnaire information and biological material collected in the Norwegian Mother and Child survey. Subfertility and ART are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, increased risk of disease in children and parents, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

One proposed mechanism is that ART procedures may contribute to epigenetic differences and possibly an altered expression of the genes. The project will investigate whether there are differences in epigenetic markers linked to ART. In order to understand the epigenetic effects, it is also important to have genetic data. We will investigate what role the genes have in sub-fertility and pregnancy and how the genes affect the epigenetic mechanisms.

Furthermore, we will investigate what can affect epigenetic markers, heredity and the role of genes and how this is connected to development and health, and how this is connected to ART.

Project leader

Siri Eldevik Håberg, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Project participants

Siri Eldevik Håberg, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Julia Romanowska, University of Bergen
Haakon Egdetveit Nustad, University of Oslo
Maria Christine Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Per Minor Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Inger Johanne Landsjøåsen Bakken, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Håkon Kristian Gjessing, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Start

01.01.2018

End

31.12.2028

Status

Active

Approvals

Regional committees for medical and health research ethics

Project owner/ Project manager

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Project manager

Siri Eldevik Håberg

Published |Updated