Dr. Pavneesh Madan Recognized For Research In The Field Of Reproduction

(Pictured above: Dr. Pavneesh Madan is looking at embryos under a time-lapse live imaging microscope.)

Dr. Pavneesh Madan, professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, recently received the Prof. L. S. Ramaswami Memorial Oration Award, which is presented to a senior scientist in recognition of their outstanding research in the field of reproduction.  

The award was part of the International Conference on Reproductive Health, organized by the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility (ISSRF) at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, India.  

Madan’s reproductive research focuses on early embryo development and factors that lead to embryonic failure. Through collaborative efforts with animal and human scientists, his contributions aim to increase pregnancy success after in vitro fertilization or embryo transfers both in animals and humans. 

Recently, Madan and his graduate students, through a series of experiments, published pioneering research examining the role of hippo gene signaling in bovine embryo development. The hippo gene plays an important role in early embryonic development and as embryos take on specialized characteristics.  A recent study from his lab showed novel differences in the regulation of hippo signaling pathway components between embryos in different stages of development. Link to research paper.  

Additionally, Madan is known for developing non-invasive markers for embryo assessment that can be used to separate healthy embryos from ones that are less likely to survive embryo transfers after in vitro fertilization. Based on the premise that a healthy embryo is absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste products differently than unhealthy embryos, Madan identified biological markers to evaluate the health of the embryo by studying small molecules within cells and tissues, and microRNAs, which influence gene activation. Link to research article.