A multidisciplinary approach will tackle the scientific challenge of studying the biological mechanisms of early embryogenesis, ultimately providing new embryo selection criteria. This goal will be achieved by combining time-lapse imaging and cutting-edge imaging technologies with mechanobiology. While multidisciplinary approaches have been recently used in tumor growth and other human diseases, to the best of our knowledge, no attempts have been made yet to use mechanobiology in bovine early embryogenesis. Starting from the macroscopic, cellular, and subcellular determinants in space and time of bovine preimplantation embryogenesis, we will establish new research and educational ways.

Such a framework takes advantage of state-of-the-art experimental facilities, in collaboration with the Redbiolab (Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory) of prof. Alberto Luciano at the University of Milan, coupled with multiphysics models and high-performance computing to provide new insights into the morphokinetics of bovine blastocysts. Our formulation ensures predictive and interpretative capabilities, modeling mechanobiological processes through the underlying physical laws, with the long-term target of making the most accurate digital twin of the early embryonic development. Equipped with such a profound comprehension of the links between properties of the embryos and their microenvironment, our Multiphysics based tools aims at improving in vitro embryonic development.

We make extensive use of the high performance computational library deal.ii (C++ software library supporting the creation of finite element codes).