Grant / From Patent to Practice: APB-TECH Takes a New Step Toward IVF Applications

What if sperm selection in IVF could look beyond what can be seen under the microscope?

A patented technology developed by Assoc. Prof. Seda Karabulut at Istanbul Medipol University is taking an important step from scientific research toward real-world application. APB-TECH, designed to support sperm selection in assisted reproductive technologies, has received support under the TÜBİTAK 1702 Patent-Based Technology Transfer Support Program.

With a budget of approximately TRY 4 million, the project also marks Istanbul Medipol University’s first project supported under the TÜBİTAK 1702 Program, opening a new pathway for transferring university-developed intellectual property to industry.

Looking Beyond Motility and Morphology

In intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), embryologists select a sperm cell to be injected directly into an oocyte. Conventional assessment relies largely on observable characteristics such as morphology and motility. Yet these features do not provide the complete biological picture of the cell.

APB-TECH was developed to add another layer of information to this selection process.

The technology uses specially designed microscopic beads to help distinguish sperm cells showing biological changes associated with apoptosis, or programmed cell death. By making these cells easier to identify under the microscope, the approach aims to support embryologists in distinguishing viable and biologically healthier sperm during selection.

Importantly, the method is designed to be compatible with existing microscopy-based workflows in IVF laboratories, potentially reducing the need for additional high-cost equipment.

When a Patent Becomes a Product

The TÜBİTAK 1702 support represents more than another research milestone. It marks a transition from generating scientific knowledge to transferring a patented technology into industry.

Within the project, APB-TECH will be licensed by Optimas Medikal Ürünler Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, with the goal of developing the patented method into a practical product for assisted reproductive technologies.

The project builds on a research journey that began with support from the TÜBİTAK 1005 Program and continued through international scientific publications and patents granted in Türkiye and the United States.

Now, with TÜBİTAK 1702 support, APB-TECH enters its next phase: moving from research to patent, from patent to licensing, and ultimately toward application.

This milestone highlights how academic research can move beyond the laboratory, creating a bridge between scientific discovery, intellectual property, industry, and technologies with the potential to contribute to healthcare.