HC Deb 30 October 1989 vol 159 cc10-3W
Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give current Government funding into infertility research.

Mr. Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1989]: The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. The council spent £2.3 million on research specifically into infertility in the financial year 1988–89 and also supports a range of basic research which may be of relevance to infertility.

Additionally, research on infertility may be pursued by university departments and medical schools with support from UFC block grants, and by health authorities; information on this is not collected centrally.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list establishments where research into infertility is currently being carried out.

Mr. Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1989]: The Medical Research Council funds research into infertility at the following establishments:

I. MRC Establishments

  1. 1. Clinical Research Centre, Clinical Sciences Division, Harrow
    • Project Title
      1. (i) Ultrasound and hormonal analysis of ovarian follicular growth in infertile women.
      2. (ii) A population survey of ovarian morphology.
      3. (iii) Urine Steroid profiling in patients with ovulatory dysfunction.

2. Clinical Research Centre, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Harrow

Project Title

Study of efficacy of antimicrobial therapy in male infertility.

3. MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh

Project Title

Cytogenetic and physiological aspects of meiosis in man and other mammals: male infertility; Spontaneous and mutagen—induced aneuploidy.

4. MRC Experimental Embryology and Teratology Unit, London

Project Title

Factors affecting in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer in laboratory animals and man.

5. MRC Mammalian Development Unit, London

Project Title

Genetic, molecular and hormonal factors affecting gonadal differentiation in the mouse.

6. MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh

  • Project Title
    1. (i) Role of neuropeptides, inhibin and gonadal steroids in the differential secretion of pituitary gonadogtrophins.
    2. (ii) Lactational amenorrhoea in women. Implications for contraception and family planning.
    3. (iii) Neural mechanisms governing the secretion of LHRH and functionally-related peptides.
    4. (iv) Application of neuropeptide analogues and steroid antagonists in the regulation of the pituitary gland.
    5. (v) Molecular analysis of sperm function in normal and infertile men. Effect of oral contraceptives and putative therapeutic agents.
    6. (vi) Identification and characterisation of gamete specific antigens. Immunological infertility and contraceptive vaccines.
    7. (vii) Endocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of the ovary, with reference to physiology of the follicle and corpus luteum.
    8. (viii) Prostaglandins in human semen. Role in sperm physiology and immunosuppression.
    9. (ix) Endrocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of the testis. Application of chemotoxins in the study of hormone kinetics and gametogenesis.
      10. 12
    10. (x) Neuroendocrine regulation of development, puberty and sexual behaviour.
    11. (xi) Studies of physiological mechanisms controlling erection in primates.
    12. (xii) Sexuality and well being of women. Relationship of the menstrual cycle, lactation, contraception and disorders thereof.
    13. (xiii) Prostaglandin biosynthesis in the female reproductive tract. Interactions with steroid hormones and their antagonists.

7. MRC Biostatistics Unit—Cambridge

Project Title

Predictive indices of fertilization capacity.

II. Grant-holders in University Departments, etc.

  1. (a) Dr. C. W. Coen, Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College. London.
  2. Biogenetic amines and the control of luteinizing hormone secretion.
  3. (b) Professor A. P. M. Flint, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London.
  4. Development and reproductive physiology of mammals.
  5. (c) Dr. H. D. M. Moore, MRC/AFRC Comparative Physiology Group, Zoological Society of London, London.
  6. Effects of chemicals on reproduction: sperm function in the rat and rabbit following testicular insult.
  7. (d) Dr. Dorothy C. Wathes, Department of Anatomy, Bristol University.
  8. Control of peptide secretions by the ovary.
  9. (e) Dr. M. J. Hunter, Department of Physiology, University of Edinburgh.
  10. Development of activation of ionic permeability channels in mammalian oocytes.
  11. (f) Professor D. T. Baird, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh.
  12. A study of the selection and maturation of the pre-ovulatory graafian follicle and oocyte.
  13. (g) Professor B. T. Pickering, Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol.
    1. (i) Testicular oxytocin: Investigations of its functions and possible role in fertility.
    2. (ii) The control of testicular oxytocin and its influence on fertility.
  14. (h) Dr. W. C. L. Ford, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bristol.
  15. The regulation of energy metabolism in human spermatozoa.
  16. (i) Dr. N. L. Poyser, Department of Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh.
  17. Investigations into the intracellular control of Prostaglandin synthesis in the endomentrium.
  18. (j) Dr. Lynn R. Fraser, Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College, London.
  19. Adenosine and cyclic AMP regulation of mamalian sperm fertilising ability.
  20. (k) Dr. L. Hall, Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol.
  21. An evaluation of hormonally-regulated, epididymal sequences as potential markers of infertility in human males.
  22. (l) Dr. T. Poulton, Department of Pathology, University of Dundee.
  23. Characterisation of spermatozoa autoantigens in male autoimmune infertility.
  24. (m) Dr. S. R. Milligan, Department of Physiology, King's College, London.
  25. The endocrine conditions limiting the establishment of pregnancy.
  26. (n) Dr. A. E. Bolton, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sheffield Polytechnic.
  27. Characterisation and biological activities of immune cells in semen and cervical mucus in normal and infertile couples.
  28. (o) Dr. R. J. Post, Department of Medical Entomology, School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool.
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  29. Investigation of the effects of repeated doses of ivermectin on onchocera volvulus fertility in Sierra Leone.

Information is not gathered centrally about research into infertility supported by block grants from the Universities Funding Council, by health authorities, or by the private sector.