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Office: 3231 RCPIowa City, IA 52242 Phone: +1 319 356 8922 Email: moshe-wald@uiowa.edu
Office/Lab: 3 RCPIowa City IA, 52242 Phone: +1 319 356 8922
BSc, Medical Sciences, Hebrew University and Hadassak School of Medicine, Jerusalem, 1988MD, Medicine, Hebrew University and Hadassah School of Medicine, Jerusalem, 1991Residency, Residency, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, 2002Fellowship, Andrology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2004Fellowship, Andrology and Male Infertility, University of Iowa, 2005
Primary: Urology
azoospermia, biodegradable graft, computational model, growth factor, male infertility
Dr. Walds' research focuses on the mechanisms that lead to vasectomy failure, and on the possible use of growth factors and biodegradable grafts for reconstructive surgery of the male reproductive tract, as part of the treatment of obstructive azoospermia. Recently he has focused on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-�, found to be increased in vasectomy sites. His experimental model also demonstrated the presence of microscopic tubules between the two edges of severed vasa deferentia, thus suggesting a possible mechanism for vasectomy failure. Previous studies have evaluated possible biomedical applications of biodegradable polymer grafts, specifically focusing on their use in guiding and accelerating peripheral nerve growth. Techniques have been developed for micropatterning biodegradable polymer substrates and incorporating nanospheres with growth factors into them, to provide physical and chemical guidance, respectively, for the regrowing elements. Current work is focusing on the role of biodegradable grafts, with or without micropatterning and/or incorporation of selected growth factors, in bridging long obstructive segments of the male reproductive tract, and serving as scaffolds for the regrowing elements. Dr. Wald is also involved in the development of computational models for the prediction of assisted reproductive techniques outcomes, as well as the outcomes of other urological conditions. He has recently developed a computational model for the prediction of in- vitro fertilization (IVF)/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), using surgically retrieved sperm, and is currently working of a model that could predict the outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI), another common assisted reproductive technique. These models can be deployed in the JavaScript language for ready availability on the world- wide web and in PalmOS for usage of handheld computers, allowing clinicians to simply enter the input data and receive an immediate outcome prediction. As such, these models could be a useful tool for decision making in various clinical situations.