A Lab-Grown Endometrium allows Studying Embryo Implantation Up to Day 14

A lab-grown endometrium has been developed by researchers of IIS La Fe, the IVI Foundation, Stanford University, and the Babraham Institute. It’s the first in vitro model that closely replicates the human endometrium. It has been created to simulate embryo implantation up to day 14 of development, the legal limit for such studies.

This breakthrough will help researchers better understand why implantation failure occurs. Also, we will be able to design even more personalized strategies for patients with fertility challenges.

Studying Embryonic Development Until Day 14: A Scientific Milestone

The international team of researchers has successfully developed a laboratory model that reproduces the process of embryo implantation during the earliest stages of development. This is a critical and highly complex step in achieving pregnancy.

This groundbreaking work, titled Modeling Human Embryo Implantation In Vitro, was published in Cell. This is one of the highest-impact international journals. It’s a leading reference in the field of cell and molecular biology. The study, led by Dr. Francisco Domínguez (IVI Foundation/IIS La Fe) and Dr. Matteo Molè (Stanford University), was selected for publication after a rigorous peer-review process. This highlights the significance of the research and its potential to transform the field of human reproduction.

Development of a Lab-Grown Endometrium to Analyze Embryo Implantation

The model developed by the team recreates a 3-D human endometrium using stromal and epithelial cells. This has enabled researchers to analyze embryo implantation in unprecedented detail up to day 14 of development. This is a milestone never before achieved outside the human body.

“For the first time, we can study the full development of the human embryo up to day 14 using a model that almost perfectly replicates the uterine environment,” explains Dr. Francisco Domínguez, researcher at the IVI Foundation and lead author of the study. “Having this work published in Cell reinforces the importance of this breakthrough for the global scientific community.”

Dr. Domínguez explains more about this study:

A Boost for Reproductive Medicine and Basic Research

This pioneering model represents a major advancement for both basic research and clinical practice. Embryo implantation is one of the most critical yet least understood stages of pregnancy and assisted reproductive treatment.

“This system will allow us to study why implantation fails in specific patients and design more personalized strategies. We can even recreate each patient’s endometrium using her own cells, paving the way for more precise, individualized reproductive medicine,” notes Dr. Domínguez.

The system developed through this research has been optimized for reproducibility, making it accessible for laboratories worldwide and facilitating new research lines focused on the early stages of pregnancy.

Next Steps Towards a More Personalized Medicine

Researchers are already working on new applications of the model—from analyzing molecular factors involved in implantation to potential interventions that could improve pregnancy rates in patients with fertility issues. Being able to use a patient’s own cells to replicate her uterus opens the door to even more precise and individualized treatments.

“Understanding what happens during these earliest stages is key to helping those trying to conceive and to advancing our knowledge of the very beginning of human life,” concludes Dr. Domínguez.