Education, Research & Clinical Trials

Education at The Center
Dedicated to providing broad educational opportunities in the biomedical sciences, the Health Center offers degree programs in medicine (M.D.), dental medicine (D.M.D.), and biomedical science (Ph.D.); master's degree programs in public health and dental science; postdoctoral fellowships; residency programs providing specialty training for newly graduated physicians and dentists; and continuing education programs for practicing health care professionals.

Each year in Farmington, about 320 students work toward their medical doctor's degree and 160 toward their doctor of medical dentistry degree. Admission to each school is highly competitive, but both schools offer preferential consideration to qualified Connecticut residents in their admissions policies. In the years since the Health Center graduated its first students in 1972, 1,132 men and women have received their D.M.D. degree; 2,436 their M.D. degree.

Through a variety of residency programs, the School of Medicine provides postgraduate training for more than 550 newly graduated M.D.s each year. These physicians come from all over the country to acquire advanced skills in fields such as the surgical specialties, internal medicine, and primary care.

The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, part of the University of Connecticut Health Centers offers one of less than 40 postgraduate fellowships for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) in the United States. Due to The Center's national reputation as a "Center of Excellence" acceptance to one of our 3 fellowship positions is very competitive. At The Center you will have REI fellows as well as Ob Gyn residents and medical students participating in your care.

Research & Clinical Trials at The Center
Clinical research is an important component of the Center's mission. Our clinical and laboratory staffs have initiated several research studies to answer many clinical questions. These studies help expand the scientific knowledge base and provide new technology to patients. Our clinical findings have been published in national journals and have played a role in advancing new knowledge to other Reproductive Medicine practices throughout the country. We are able to conduct this research only through the cooperation of our patients who are willing to participate in these studies. We dedicate all this advanced reproduction knowledge to them.

Current Research Being Done at the Center:

Comprehensive In-vitro Fertilization Study (IVF)
The purpose of this study is to show that a single injection of SCH 900962 is non-inferior to daily injections of recFSH during the first week of ovarian stimulation in terms of the number of vital pregnancies (ie, presence of at least one fetus with heart activity as assessed by ultrasound at least 35 days after embryo transfer) in women aged 35 to 42 years undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Click here to learn more

Expressive Writing Study:
This research study is about the use of journaling as a stress management technique. The purpose of this study is to test the effects of writing exercises on the emotions of a sample of women undergoing fertility treatment.

Oxygen Tension on In Vitro Fertilization (PhOx): This clinical trial will compare two different embryo culturing techniques currently being used in In Vitro Fertilization. The data will compare the results of culturing embryos at room concentrations of oxygen (20%) or at physiological concentrations of oxygen (5%). In addition to the direct comparison of these two techniques, the study also has an optional component looking to see if genetics of the embryo plays a role in how well embryos do in these different oxygen conditions in In Vitro Fertilization.

If you have interest in more information on this research or wish to discuss eligibility for participation in these research trials, please contact your physician here at the Center or Victoria, Clinical Research Coordinator @ 860-679-4612.