O-055 Understanding endometrial functionality and embryo-maternal communication via in vitro “OMICs’’ platforms

The uterus (womb) is perhaps the most fascinating organ in the human body. It undergoes cyclical regeneration of its inner layer, the endometrium, and is notoriously unreceptive to implantation, except for a short period of time known as the window of implantation (WoI), the only time when it becomes receptive to the implantation of an embryo resulting in pregnancy. A common reason for pregnancy failure is implantation failure. Similarly, many in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments that do not result in a live birth fail because the embryo does not successfully implant. This is a significant challenge as there is limited understanding of the exact timing and cellular/molecular characteristics of the human endometrium during WoI. Here I will present results on the characterisation of the WoI in humans, contextualised with results from “omics’ platforms. Moreover, we will provide 3D data on the structural development of the human uterus, paving the way to develop innovative culture platforms to investigate embryo-maternal communication.