Advancing reproductive medicine through research: Our experts publish novel KIR diagnostic approach
At FutureLife Group, innovation is driven by collaboration. We are proud to celebrate a new scientific publication that brings together experts from Gennet's Immunological Laboratory and GNTLabs by GENNET, demonstrating how multidisciplinary expertise can translate into better diagnostics for fertility patients.
The study, recently published in Clinical Laboratory, introduces a novel flow cytometry-based method for analysing Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIRs) on natural killer (NK) cells - an important component of the maternal immune system that plays a key role during embryo implantation and early placental development.
Why does this matter?
Despite major advances in reproductive medicine, recurrent implantation failure, recurrent pregnancy loss and other adverse pregnancy outcomes remain challenging for both patients and clinicians.
Growing scientific evidence suggests that, in some patients, the interaction between the maternal immune system and the developing embryo may contribute to these complications. Understanding these immune mechanisms opens new opportunities for more personalised diagnostics and treatment planning.
A new diagnostic approach
The publication presents a novel flow cytometric protocol capable of analysing the expression of key KIR receptors on NK cells.
The researchers demonstrated:
- 98.4% concordance with conventional PCR-based genotyping
- reliable identification of clinically relevant KIR phenotypes
- potential for faster, practical functional immune profiling in reproductive medicine.
The findings also showed that the maternal KIR AA phenotype and paternal HLA-C2 status were independently associated with recurrent implantation failure, supporting previous international research into immunogenetic factors influencing reproductive success.
Research powered by collaboration
This publication reflects the close collaboration between specialists across FutureLife Group.
The study was authored by:
- Tereza Kovářová (Gennet)
- Štěpánka Luxová (Gennet)
- Martina Bitóová (GNTLabs by GENNET)
- Monika Koudová (GNTLabs by GENNET)
- Karin Černá (Gennet)
Together, the teams combined expertise in reproductive immunology, genetics and laboratory diagnostics to develop a method that may contribute to more personalised fertility care in the future.
Science that benefits patients
At FutureLife Group, research is not an isolated activity-it is an integral part of how we continuously improve patient care.
By connecting clinical practice, laboratory medicine and scientific research, our teams continue to advance personalised reproductive medicine and help patients make better-informed decisions throughout their fertility journey.
Congratulations to everyone involved on this important scientific achievement.
