Russell
Research Lab

Decoding the molecular blueprint of human embryogenesis — from single-cell multi-omics to computational models of preimplantation development.

Wilfrid Laurier University
CReATe Fertility Centre

We seek to understand how a single fertilized cell orchestrates the complex molecular programs that build a human embryo — and why this process sometimes fails.

What molecular signatures distinguish embryos that will successfully implant from those that will not?
How do small non-coding RNAs regulate the earliest cell fate decisions in human development?
Can we build computational models that predict embryo developmental potential from multi-omic data?
What role does the endometrial environment play in recurrent implantation failure?
What We Study

Research Themes

Our work sits at the intersection of reproductive biology, computational genomics, and clinical fertility.

Theme 01
Small RNA Biology in Early Embryos

Mapping the small non-coding RNA landscape across human preimplantation development at single-cell resolution.

Theme 02
The Digital Embryo

Building predictive in silico models of human preimplantation development through multi-omic data integration.

Theme 03
Endometrial Receptivity & Implantation

Investigating the molecular dialogue between embryo and endometrium, with a focus on recurrent implantation failure.