Infectious Disease Program

SPAR recieves the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Prize Paper Award presented at the The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2007 Conference.

Download Presentation PDF

Dr. Kiessling gave the talk:"Assisted Reproduction with Sperm from HIV-infected Men"

And she presented a training seminar entitled: "Infectious Diseases And The ART Laboratory: Potential Problems And Solution"

A Not for Profit Laboratory

The Bedford Research Foundation's clinical laboratory is a not for profit, Massachusetts public charity. The laboratory operates on the principle that revenues and information from existing laboratory tests should be used to support research and the development of new tests.
The Special Program of Assisted Reproduction is the only program in the country that uses highly sensitive PCR tests for HIV (and other infectious disease) in combination with "sperm washing" to minimize the risk of transmitting the father's infection to the mother and child during assisted reproduction. These semen tests are also used to monitor HIV and other infectious disease therapy and may help predict therapy failure.

Staff
SPAR Program Coordinator
Jamie Thorn holds a BS in Biology from Suffolk University, with minors in Chemistry and Philosophy. He takes over for Bryan Desmarais as the cornerstone of the Foundation’s award winning SPAR program. Mr. Thorn is acting Program Coordinator in addition to heading up the molecular biology assays utilized for HIV detection, Hepatitis B, C and bacteria. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Laboratory and Research Staff

Bryan Desmarais holds a degree in Biology from Northeastern University. Mr. Desmarais has worked at Bedford Research Foundation as a skilled laboratory technician since 2000. He is the cornerstone of the molecular biology assays utilized for HIV detection and the current bacteria detection research.

Maureen Kearnan is a reproductive biologist with more than 15 years experience in assisted reproduction clinics. Ms. Kearnan lends her support and clinical skills to the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR).

Jessica Piccirilli is a phlebotomist and medical services specialist who joined the BRF team after six years of commended service as a Battalion Medical Supervisor and Airborne Combat Medical Specialist in the US Army. Ms. Piccirilli leads the BRF administrative office as well as coordinating client conferences and testing for all semen test services and the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction.

Dr. Hui-Zhong Yin, held a position as Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, for many years. He is a urologic surgeon turned research scientist. Dr. Yin is an expert in the science of male infertility and has devoted more than twelve years to the ongoing research currently at Bedford Research Foundation. Dr. Yin personally heads up the cryopreservation and semen testing division and consults on the new tests being developed for semen bacteria and prostate cancer.

Advisory Board

Dr. Robert C. Eyre, Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, is a corporate officer and consultant for Bedford Research Foundation. Dr. Eyre is an internationally known urologic surgeon with expertise in all areas of male reproductive tract health, including infertility and prostate cancer. Dr. Eyre holds offices in local and national professional associations and regularly lectures nationally on urologic health issues.

Dr. Ann Kiessling, Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, is Director and founder of Bedford Research Foundation. Dr. Kiessling is an internationally known research scientist. She has published more than 100 scientific papers in the areas of reproductive biology, infectious disease and stem cells. She founded Duncan Holly Biomedical in 1996 to facilitate technology transfer from basic science discoveries to clinical test development, in 2004 Duncan Holly joined with Bedford Research Foundation. She oversees research and development at the Foundation in addition to function as the licensed laboratory director.
 
Bedford Research Foundation is the only laboratory in the country to use PCR tests to look for bacteria in semen. The test detects increased numbers of white blood cells, indicating an infection and may help your doctor treat your prostatitis. 
Rapid HIV Testing in Davis Square - a walk-in, anonymous, rapid HIV testing service every Friday from 10AM to 1PM. Using the Oraquick HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antibody Test, patients can get their results in 30 minutes. The Oraquick test requires only a simple finger prick. more