DAN Women & Babies Program

Administrative Assistant: Kevin Quach
Phone: 416-323-7727, ext. 2950
Email: kevin@createivf.com

Education:

• MD, 1983, University of Toronto, Canada
• FRSC(C), 1988, department of obstetrics and gynaecology, U of T, Canada
• FACOG(REI), 1991, department of reproductive sciences, University of California, San Francisco, U.S.

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Associate scientist, Biological Sciences, DAN Women & Babies Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Director, CReATe Fertility Centre
• Director, CReATe Cord Blood Bank
• Associate professor, departments of obstetrics and gynaecology, and physiology, faculty of medicine, U of T
• Associate professor, Institute of Medical Science, U of T
• Director, reproductive biology research program, Sunnybrook Heath Sciences Centre and Women's College Hospital
• Division head, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital
• Chair, reproductive biology section, Ontario Medical Association
• Co-director, National IVF Improvement Committee

Research Foci:

• Infertility
• Reproductive biology
• Stem cell biology
• Reproductive endrocrinology
• Reproductive immunology

Research Summary:

Dr. Librach's research foci are as follows:

1. Clinical studies on methods such as assisted reproduction to improve treatment of infertility due to polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent pregnancy losses and endometriosis.
2. Development of testing to predict preeclampsia, a condition in pregnancy characterized by a sharp rise in blood pressure, large amounts of protein in the urine and swelling of the hands, feet and face.
3. Study of the role of human leukocyte antigen G as an immunoprotective molecule in reproduction, transplantation and cancer.
4. Evaluation of biomarkers that may be indicative of female infertility and egg quality.
5. Development of new laboratory tests for the evaluation of male infertility.
6. Preimplantation genetic analysis in human embryo development.
7. Using stem cells from umbilical cord tissue for the treatement of spinal cord injury, heart attack, liver disease and study of aberrant gamete (reproductive cell) development.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Hong SH, Maghen L, Kenigsberg S, Teichert A, Rameloo A, Shlush K, Szaraz P, Pereira S, Lulat A, Xiao R, Yie S, Gauthier-Fisher A, Librach C. Ontogeny of human umbilical cord perivascular cells: molecular and fate potential changes during gestation. Stem Cells Dev. 2013 Sep 1;22(17):2425–39.
2. Grover S, Shmorgun Z, Moskovtsev SI, Baratz A, Librach CL. Assisted reproduction in a cohort of same-sex male couples and single men. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013 Aug;27(2): 217–21.
3. Dar S, Librach CL, Gunby J, Bissonnette F, and Cowan L. Increased risk of preterm birth in singleton pregnancies after blastocyst versus day 3 embryo transfer: Canadian ART Register (CARTR) analysis. Hum Reprod. 2013 Apr;28(4): 924–28.
4. Balakier H, Xiao R, Zhao J, Zaver S, Dziak E, Szczepanska K, Opas M, Yie S, Librach C. Expression of survivin in human oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Fertil Steril. 2013 Feb;99(2):518–25.
5. Yie S, Li L , Li G, Xiao R and Librach CL. Progesterone enhances human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) gene expression in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell and human cytotrophoblasts in vitro. Hum Reprod. 2006 Jan;21(1):46–51.

Related News and Stories:

• Pay it forward: Undergraduate strives to give back (July 17, 2015)
• Public umbilical cord blood bank launches in Ottawa: donations also to be accepted in Brampton, Ont., Edmonton, Vancouver once bank ready (CBC News, Sep. 30, 2013)
• Knowledge of infertility low in urban teens (Sept 28, 2008)

Related Links:

• Department of obstetrics and gynaecology, U of T
• CReATe Fertility Centre
• CReATe Cord Blood Bank
• Peristem