AI system to find and collect very rare sperm
Rare sperm screening and retrieval with a domain-adaptive deep learning-enabled microwell system.
An AI-powered lab tool that looks for and helps retrieve tiny numbers of sperm to help men with very low sperm counts or azoospermia try for biological children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project builds a tiny-well (microwell) lab device combined with domain-adaptive deep learning to spot sperm that are extremely rare in semen or testicular samples. The device isolates small volumes so the AI can rapidly scan and flag candidate sperm that would be very time-consuming to find by eye. Flagged sperm can then be retrieved for use with assisted reproductive technologies, potentially avoiding or reducing the need for invasive testicular surgery. The team is addressing past limits of microfluidic and machine-learning methods by adapting the AI to work reliably across different sample types and lab conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with non-obstructive azoospermia or very low sperm counts (severe oligospermia) who are pursuing assisted reproductive help are the most likely candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: Men whose testes produce no sperm at all (for example certain complete testicular failure or some severe genetic conditions) are unlikely to benefit from this technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the system could let some men avoid invasive sperm-retrieval surgery by finding usable sperm in ejaculates or small lab samples, improving chances of having biological children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous microfluidic and machine-learning approaches showed promise but have not replaced manual microscope searches, so combining microwells with domain-adaptive AI is a newer, relatively untested clinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shafiee, Hadi — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Shafiee, Hadi
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.