Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that it has entered into a global research collaboration with Predictive Laboratories, a wholly owned subsidiary of Predictive Technology Group, Inc., (OTC PINK: PRED) focused on studying the genetic factors underlying infertility in women. The work will utilize Thermo Fisher's various offerings for reproductive health, including Applied Biosystems CarrierScan Assay, Ion ReproSeq PGS Assay, CytoScan Dx Assay, and Ion AmpliSeq Exome RDY for whole exome sequencing.

Infertility has many potential causes, which may involve one or both partners. In some cases, no cause of the condition can be determined, leading the infertility to be described as "unexplained." The most common causes among women are irregular ovulation, blockage of the fallopian tubes, and endometriosis. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) reports that at least 40 percent of women with infertility have endometriosis.

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that lines the uterine wall grows in other areas of the body outside of the uterus. While the symptoms are well-characterized, including pelvic pain, heavy periods, and pain during sexual intercourse or bowel movements, the disease is highly variable and many women have asymptomatic endometriosis, which has a significant impact on their fertility. The studies with Predictive Laboratories aim to elucidate the genetic basis of this condition, which is expected to more accurately define which women will experience infertility.

"Infertility among women who seek to conceive has become an increasingly common condition, which leads to much frustration and financial burden as they seek alternative solutions," said Bradley Robinson, CEO of Predictive Technology Group. "Our collaboration with Thermo Fisher brings together our innovative research and development capabilities with market-leading next generation sequencing technology to better understand the genetics of infertility for future development of a diagnostic solution."