Fully automated AI-based system developed for IVF embryo quality assessment

Developed by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, ‘BELA’ is the team’s latest AI-based platform for assessing whether an embryo has a normal (euploid) or abnormal (aneuploid) number of chromosomes, which is a key determinant of IVF success.

The researchers said that unlike prior AI-based approaches, BELA does not need to  consider embryologists' subjective assessments of embryos. Consequently it offers an objective, generalisable measure and, if its utility is confirmed in clinical trials, could be used in embryology clinics to improve the efficiency of the IVF process.

Embryologists typically assess an IVF embryo's quality by examining it under a microscope. If it looks relatively normal but there are reasons to suspect possible problems, such as in cases of advanced maternal age, they may test its chromosomal status more directly.

According to the researchers, the ‘gold standard’ test is a somewhat risky biopsy-like procedure called preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) – and, as a result, embryologists have been collaborating with AI experts to find ways to automate workflow and improve outcomes.