Making the Invisible Visible: Transforming Public, Clinical, and Policy Understandings of the Embryo In Vitro

 The ETHICHO project – Ethico-ontological choreographies: Forms of objectification and evaluation of the human embryo in vitro in the context of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and Scientific Research, coordinated by Catarina Delaunay and funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), has generated significant societal, professional, and academic impacts. The project combined cutting-edge empirical research with a strong commitment to public engagement, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.

According to the OECD, one in seven couples experiences infertility, a figure on the rise as parenthood is increasingly postponed. In Portugal, ART is accessed by infertile couples, single women, and same-sex female couples. However, these procedures have low success rates and can be emotionally taxing, contributing to distress, isolation, and decision-making fatigue.

ETHICHO addressed a gap in public debate by offering a platform for 74 ART beneficiaries to process complex emotional experiences through research interviews conducted with empathy and care. One participant wrote, “I’m very grateful to you for being part of my healing process.” Others expressed appreciation orally. By amplifying the narratives of underrepresented groups—infertile patients, LGBTQI+ individuals, single mothers—the project promoted social inclusion and contributed to greater equity in how ART users are represented in public discourse and policy.

ETHICHO translated scientific findings into accessible formats for broader engagement. These included a podcast series—Embriões—exploring the social worlds of embryos using research insights in plain language. Episodes are available on Spotify and Google Podcasts. The project was also featured in the national science outreach program “90 Segundos de Ciência” (episode 1096), further broadening its reach.

Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and the project’s website were used to share updates and disseminate findings. Facebook proved crucial in reaching ART beneficiaries, especially through private groups on infertility and parenthood. This ensured a continuous and dialogical flow of information between researchers and participants.

The project contributed to evidence-based health policy by fostering knowledge exchange between stakeholders. The final seminar, “The (bio)medicalisation of the life cycle: being born, growing up and dying”, included health professionals among speakers and attendees, enabling co-validation of findings and the formulation of action-oriented recommendations. ETHICHO’s results have been published in interdisciplinary international journals (e.g., Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online; Patient Education and Counseling), informing best practices in embryo-related communication and decision-making support.

The principal investigator is also preparing a best-practices handbook for health professionals and a policy brief to promote more inclusive ART policies, aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ETHICHO made original contributions to Sociology of Health, Medical Anthropology, and Science & Technology Studies. A flagship article developed the concept of “emotional choreographies” to describe how ART users relate to embryos over time. The paper was well-received internationally, drew 7,665 views, 89 likes, and 20 shares within 48 hours on Twitter, and prompted an invitation from Prof. Alicia Walker to contribute to the Council on Contemporary Families blog.

Another paper reinterpreted Weberian theory to understand embryologists’ decision-making, receiving acclaim from Prof. Thomas Kemple (University of British Columbia), who described it as “an illuminating use of Weber’s ideal types of social action […] very much in the spirit of his methodological framework.”

The project also addressed research ethics through a paper on methodological dilemmas in researching vulnerable populations, which led to two high-profile invitations: one from Prof. Pranee Liamputtong to contribute to the Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences (Elgar, 2025), and another to record a case study for Sage Research Methods.

ETHICHO contributed to student training and research capacity by offering two internships, two research initiation grants (under “Verão com Ciência 2021”), and a curricular unit involving tasks such as transcription, coding, and interview analysis. Four students were mentored in academic writing and data analysis. The project was presented and discussed in 11 undergraduate, master’s, and PhD courses across institutions (e.g., NOVA FCSH, ICS-UL, UBI, FEUC), fostering dialogue between research and teaching.

Three early-career researchers—a PhD student, a postdoctoral researcher, and a postdoctoral fellow—were employed by the project and are now active in national and European initiatives, illustrating ETHICHO’s contribution to human capital development.

ETHICHO exemplifies how high-quality sociological research can inform health communication, improve public understanding, and promote inclusive policy-making. Its multidimensional impact spans emotional support for ART users, public engagement, academic innovation, policy influence, and capacity building—demonstrating a strong return on public research investment.