The Potential of the Automated IVF Lab
Chavez-Badiola, Kuku & Abram, 2025
While IVF has helped millions of people have babies, it remains expensive and unavailable to many who need it. This article examines how automation could transform IVF from a costly, specialized service into an accessible healthcare option for all. The authors explain how robotic systems and artificial intelligence could reduce costs by allowing laboratories to handle many more treatment cycles without proportionally increasing staff. They also describe how compact, automated "satellite" laboratories could bring IVF services to rural and underserved areas that currently lack the resources for traditional IVF centers. Rather than replacing embryologists, automation would free them from repetitive manual tasks, allowing them to oversee multiple procedures simultaneously and focus on quality control. The paper also highlights how standardized, automated systems could generate better research data by eliminating the variability that comes from different embryologists performing procedures differently. The authors conclude that thoughtful implementation of automation could fulfill a dual purpose: making fertility care accessible to all while advancing our scientific understanding of reproduction.