Monash-Led Study Explores IVF Innovations
A major international review led by Monash University, published on 5th June in Nature Reviews Bioengineering, outlines the potential of artificial intelligence and automation to transform in vitro fertilisation (IVF) practices. These technologies could enhance key IVF procedures such as sperm preparation, oocyte handling, embryo selection, and cryopreservation.
The study was spearheaded by PhD student Jennifer Lorimer from Monash’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, under the guidance of Associate Professor Reza Nosrati. Nosrati is known for pioneering microfluidic and AI-based technologies in fertility and assisted reproduction.
“AI and automation are opening the door to a new generation of IVF technologies that are not just automated versions of manual techniques, but redesigned systems that overcome current limitations,” Lorimer stated. She emphasised that these advancements can reduce variability in IVF outcomes by improving precision and standardising clinical workflows.
Challenges and Opportunities
According to insights from Monash IVF Group’s Professor Robert McLachlan and Professor Deirdre Zander-Fox, as well as Professor Moira O’Bryan from the University of Melbourne, many existing IVF procedures remain manual, affecting consistency and predictability. “The opportunity is not just to automate existing workflows, but to redesign them to better reflect the complexity of reproductive biology,” said Associate Professor Nosrati.
New AI-enabled IVF systems could integrate real-time data across laboratories, aiding in decision-making while considering biological differences among patients. Professor Deirdre Zander-Fox remarked, “These systems could support more objective assessment of sperm, eggs and embryos, and help embryologists make more informed decisions while keeping expert human oversight at the centre of care.”
Despite these advances, many new technologies do not reach clinical use because they fail to meet essential biological objectives or face hurdles related to cost and integration. Collaboration between engineers and embryologists is essential to overcome these barriers and enhance the safety and reliability of IVF systems.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:53 am
