Institute for the study of fertility

Our Vision

Male infertility is a common impairment affecting 7% of men. Our research focuses on uncovering genetic causes that affect normal spermatogenesis. Growing evidence supports that the quality of sperm may influence the fertilization process and the normal early development stages of the embryo. Our research aims to uncover genetic defects affecting male fertility.

Our Team

  • Dr. Sandra E. Kleiman, Lab PI, Department of Gynecology and obstetrician.Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
  • Dr. Shimi Barda, Lab manager

  • Maisam Bashir, MSc student

  • Elian Dahdal, MSc.
  • Ofir Karibi
  • Amit Wainstein, MSc.
  • Emma Belfer, MD student
  • Sarah Hassan, MSc.
  • Nicole Shalit, MD student
  • Ronit Almog, MD
  • Shimi Barda, PhD.
  • Michal Margalit, PhD.
  • Ivana Ribarski, MSc.
  • Dikla Ben Moshe
  • Gal Nusbaum
  • Albert Samandarov, MD
  • Eran Miller, MD
  • Rital Lippman, MSc.

Research

contributing to the heterogenic semen phenotype in infertile relative patients

in men without germ cells ( Sertoli cells only pathology)

in familial and non-familial infertility, from genome to function

Highlight Publications

A pathogenic variant in the uncharacterized RNF212B gene results in severe aneuploidy male infertility and repeated IVF failure.

Gershoni M, Braun T, Hauser R, Barda S, Lehavi O, Malcov M, Frumkin T, Kalma Y, Pietrokovski S, Arama E, Kleiman SE.

HGG Adv. 2023 Mar 31;4(3):100189. doi: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100189.


MicroRNAs expression in semen and testis of azoospermic men.

Wainstein A, Hassan S, Barda S, Lehavi O, Azem F, Ben-Dov IZ, Hauser R, Kleiman SE.

Andrology. 2023 May;11(4):687-697. doi: 10.1111/andr.13394.

The impact of COVID-19 vaccine on sperm quality.

Barda S, Laskov I, Grisaru D, Lehavi O, Kleiman S, Wenkert A, Azem F, Hauser R, Michaan N.

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Jul;158(1):116-120. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14135.


Testicular microlithiasis defines a subgroup of azoospermic men with low rates of sperm retrieval.

Barda S, Hauser R, Mano R, Savin Z, Molad-Hayo Y, Lehavi O, Kleiman SE, Azem F, Yossepowitch O, Dekalo S.

Int J Urol. 2022 Jan;29(1):65-68. doi: 10.1111/iju.14717.

Determining the expression levels of CSF-1 and OCT4, CREM-1, and protamine in testicular biopsies of adult Klinefelter patients: Their possible correlation with spermatogenesis.

Abofoul-Azab M, Lunenfeld E, Kleiman S, Barda S, Hauser R, Huleihel M.

Andrologia. 2022 Nov;54(10):e14558. doi: 10.1111/and.14558.


Pathogenic variations in Germ Cell Nuclear Acidic Peptidase (GCNA) are associated with human male infertility.

Arafat M, Kleiman SE, AbuMadighem A, Zeadna A, Levitas E, Vardi IH, Barda S, Lehavi O, Hauser R, Lunenfeld E, Huleihel M, Gershoni M, Parvari R.

Eur J Hum Genet. 2021 Dec;29(12):1781-1788. doi: 10.1038/s41431-021-00946-2.

Questioning the utility of round spermatid injections in men with non-obstructive azoospermia.

Barda S, Mano R, Lehavi O, Kleiman SE, Yossepowitch O, Azem F, Hauser R, Dekalo S.

Andrology. 2021 Jul;9(4):1145-1150. doi: 10.1111/andr.13008.

Impact of time between repeated sperm freezing cycles on sperm quality.

Zaghi B, Barda S, Kleiman SE, Hauser R.

Reprod Biol. 2020 Mar;20(1):75-80. doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2019.12.003.

A new MEIOB mutation is a recurrent cause for azoospermia and testicular meiotic arrest.

Gershoni M, Hauser R, Barda S, Lehavi O, Arama E, Pietrokovski S, Kleiman SE.

Hum Reprod. 2019 Apr 1;34(4):666-671. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dez016.

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