Objective
Ovarian aging is a natural, progressive decline in ovarian function marked by a reduction in both the quantity and quality of oocytes. Beginning in the mid-30s and culminating in menopause between ages 45 and 55, it reflects the depletion of a finite pool of primordial follicles established before birth. The ovary is the first organ to show irreversible aging, and its decline contributes significantly to menopause-related health complications, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
This proposal aims to develop innovative strategies to delay ovarian aging by preserving the follicular pool and enhancing vascular support for sustained folliculogenesis. For this, I will first generate a blueprint of the neurovascular and metabolic landscape of the aging human ovary, important to understand folliculogenesis. High-resolution 3D imaging will be used to visualize the neurovascular network during key stages of follicle development, while spatial metabolomics will assess age-related changes in lipid and glucose metabolism using isotope-labelled substrates. Secondly, I will investigate the potential of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to reduce premature follicular activation and to support vascular development in cultured adult human ovarian tissue. Finally, I will explore the role of vascular mural cells in enhancing angiogenic capacity in follicular growth during aging. Human ovaries of different ages will be perfused with mural cells derived from pluripotent stem cells to assess their impact on follicular quality.
These strategies may offer clinically feasible interventions (SCFAs are druggable targets and the proposed cellular therapy to enhance ovarian angiogenesis could be adapted for clinical use). Our approach to delaying ovarian aging has potential to deliver profound societal and economic benefits for female individuals and society at large, not only by reducing health-related issues, but also by extending reproductive lifespan.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2333 ZA Leiden
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.