Dr. Shubhashree Uppangala

Research projects- 2

1. Experimental approach to assess the protective effects of Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in preventing the chemotherapy induced ovarian damage and transgenerational effects

PI: Dr. Shubhashree Uppangala

Co-I: Dr. Satish Kumar Adiga

Funding agency: ICMR

Description- The co-administration of GnRHa during chemotherapy has been considered as one of the potential noninvasive fertility preservation method. However, due to inconsistence results and lack of proven molecular mechanism it is unknown whether age and multidrug chemotherapy regimen have any influence on already proven protective effects of GnRHa in preventing the chemotherapy induced ovarian damage. Therefore the main objective of this study to understand is there any differential efficacy of GnRHa in protecting ovary exposed to chemotherapy with respect to age, multidrug treatment modality and its long term protective effects in terms of maintaining ovarian function further reducing the transgenerational effects of chemotherapy.

2. Unravelling the influence of genetic variants on follicular microenvironment, ovarian response and pregnancy outcome in young women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment.

PI: Dr. Shubhashree Uppangala

Co-I: Dr. Satish Kumar Adiga, Dr. Prashanth Adiga, Dr. Srabani Mukherjee

Funding agency: SERB core grant

Description- Poor ovarian response (POR) is one of the major challenges faced in assisted reproductive technology (ART) in which reduced number of oocytes retrieved after ovarian stimulation (OS) resulting in poor ART outcome. The incidence of POR following OS varies worldwide between 5.6- 35.1%, contributing immensely towards the poor pregnancy rate observed in ART cycles. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanism leading to POR is important in order to improve the ART outcome in these patients. In this regard, there is limited knowledge about the aetiology of POR in young patients with normal ovarian reserve markers. 

Other than age, ovarian response is influenced by the presence of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)/ genetic variants present in hormone receptors that play an important role in normal folliculogenesis. Therefore, it is important to understand the link between genetic variants, follicular microenvironment and granulosa cell function that ultimately decides the oocyte and embryo developmental potential. Hence, this study is proposed to understand the altered follicular microenvironment and granulosa cell function in association with genetic variants found in hormone receptors.

Full list- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=uppangala+s

Key publications-

1.     Cheredath A, Uppangala S, C S A, Jijo A, R VL, Kumar P, Joseph D, G A NG, Kalthur G, Adiga SK. Combining Machine Learning with Metabolomic and Embryologic Data Improves Embryo Implantation Prediction. Reprod Sci. 2023 Mar;30(3):984-994.

2.     Meitei HY, Uppangala S, Lakshmi R V, Guddattu V, Hegde P, Kumar P, Adiga P, Kalthur G, Schlatt S, Adiga SK. Sperm characteristics in normal and abnormal ejaculates are differently influenced by the length of ejaculatory abstinence. Andrology. 2022 Oct;10(7):1351-1360.

3.     Uppangala S, Daddangadi A, Joseph JS, Salian SR, Pandya RK, Kalthur G, Adiga SK. Stage-specific response in early mouse embryos exposed to prednisolone in vitro. J Endocrinol. 2021 Feb;248(2):237-247.

4.     Uppangala S, Fernandes G, Salian SR, Kumar P, Talevi R, Kalthur G, Adiga SK. Reduced ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation is associated with increased oxidative stress in the follicular environment. Reprod Biol. 2020 Sep;20(3):402-407.

5.     Uppangala S, Pudakalakatti S, D'souza F, Salian SR, Kalthur G, Kumar P, Atreya H, Adiga SK. Influence of sperm DNA damage on human preimplantation embryo metabolism. Reprod Biol. 2016 Sep;16(3):234-241.

• In vitro study to understand the role of GnRH agonist in protecting the human granulosa cells from chemotherapy induced damage, Nidhi Rao, 2022. • Role of Embryo Image Analysis in Predicting ART Outcome using Artificial Intelligence based approach, Aaheli Choudhuri, 2022 • Understanding the follicular microenvironment and ART outcome in unexpected poor responder patients, Sanjana B N, 2022 • Experimental approach to understand the role of Prednisolone administration during ovarian stimulation, Vijeta Shetty, 2021 • Experimental approach to assess the direct effects of prednisolone on mouse oocyte developmental competence and genetic integrity, Shruthivishali, 2021 • Investigating the utility of pharmacological inhibition of Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15) in minimizing the iatrogenic sperm damage caused during human semen cryopreservation, Kavya Rayalla, 2020