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HYLIGHT project

Hyperspectral imaging for embryo selection

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Infertility is a condition affecting one out of seven couples in Europe.
To overcome these difficulties, those who desire to become parents usually turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, a path often hard and unsuccessful. Despite the technical advances developed in the last decades, the mean successful rate of an IVF treatment, that is, the number of initial transferred embryos leading to a live birth is relatively low (30%), and repeated unsuccessful IVF cycles imply a significant emotional, physical, and financial burden for women and couples.

The HYLIGHT project will build on the technology established in the ATTRACT phase 1 by further developing a non-invasive diagnostic device for human embryos from the Proof-of-Concept stage to a prototype already integrated in the routine of a reproductive clinic

“HYLIGHT project will develop a robust and easy to use technology to select, non-invasively, the embryos that are competent for implantation and development, increasing the success rate and reducing the so called “time to pregnancy””.
Samuel ojosnegros, ibec
Samuel ojosnegros, ibec

HYLIGHT AT A GLANCE

Samuel Ojosnegros, HYLIGHT coordinator at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), talks about the project in this ATTRACT stories video.

Improving embryo selection, i.e., identifying the single embryo with the highest reproductive potential will reduce the time to pregnancy and will therefore ease the psychological distress in patients after multiple unsuccessful IVF treatments.

The HYLIGHT TECHNOLOGY​

This diagnostic device combines hyperspectral analysis with artificial intelligence, that allows embryo classification based on their metabolic profiles, taking advantage of the natural auto-fluorescence of key cellular compounds, such as NADH or FADH. The advantage of this new approach is that embryos are classified in a safe non-invasive way, minimizing damage.

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Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is a research institute covering most bioengineering fields, from basic research to medical applications, aiming to act as an international reference in this field. The institute has close links with international research centres, universities, hospitals, and industry to exchange talent, and develop and execute projects.

The Bioengineering in Reproductive Health Lab, led by Dr. Samuel Ojosnegros, combines bioengineering and optic tools to develop microscopes and bioengineered platforms to reproduce a 3D environment able to support embryonic development outside the uterus and study the mechanisms controlling embryo implantation.
Our systems allow us to interrogate the embryonic genetics, metabolomics, and mechanics in a high throughput manner. Our dual research philosophy with a basic-translational component is not limited to embryology but convey into other disciplines such as diagnostics and cell therapies and has granted us collaboration contracts with the pharma industry, hospitals, and venture capital to bring our technology to the clinics and to the market.

Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10-12, 08028 Barcelona

Bioengineering for Reproductive Health Group

Samuel Ojosnegros, PhD Principal Investigator
Anna Seriola, PhD Senior Scientist
Miquel Ares, PhD Optical Engineer
Anna Ferrer, PhD Project Manager
Albert Parra PhD Student

DEXEUS mujer

Dexeus Mujer is an international reference centre in the field of obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive medicine. For more than 85 years, our aim has been to care for women's health at all stages of their lives - childhood, adolescence, maternity, menopause, and active ageing - and to provide them with comprehensive care. We have more than 100 physicians specialised in women's health who share a common goal: to provide high quality medical treatments through teamwork and the use of the most advanced medical technology.
The centre located in Barcelona is one of the largest and most specialised in Europe when it comes to women’s health. It is a unique centre designed to cover the needs our patients may have and to give them a personal, efficient, and adequate service.
DEXEUS CAMPUS is the online platform of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction of DEXEUS MUJER – Hospital Universitari Dexeus aimed at professionals specialized in any field related to women’s health who want to expand, update, or improve their knowledge.

Gran Via Carles III 71-75, 08028 Barcelona

Montse Boada, PhD Consultant
Beatriz Carrasco, PhD IVF Lab Head
Mònica Parriego, PhD ART Lab Director
Miquel Solé, PhD Cryobiology Lab Head

M Squared Lasers

M Squared Lasers develops and manufactures next-generation lasers and photonics systems, with a strategic focus in the area of microscopy and life sciences.
The company expertise spans the entire laser performance spectrum: from ultra-narrow, highly-stabilized continuous wave lasers to broadband femtosecond sources. It has longstanding experience and demonstrated success in delivering innovative solid-state laser products and increasingly, invests in the development integrated systems to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges. M Squared Lasers have expanded our device development portfolio into the biophotonics area through a dedicated subsidiary, M Squared Life Limited based in East London’s Olympic Park.
Through M Squared Life, the team has become an emerging supplier of highly innovative light sheet microscopes. The highly innovative interdisciplinary teams have developed Aurora, a novel modular light sheet microscopy platform, enabling demanding microscopy users by tackling key challenges including: imaging of larger volumes, with sub-cellular resolution, faster acquisition speeds, and with low phototoxicity for the sample.

M Squared Life Limited, 14 East Bay Lane, The Press Centre, Here East, Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford, London, E15 2GW

Neveen Hosny, PhD Head of Operations and Product Development
Nils Hempler, PhD General Manager
James Bain, PhD Director of Innovation

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