The work performed in the 8 WPs from the beginning to the end of the project is summarized as follows:
WP1 (Management and Coordination) included the launch of the project website (www.rep-biotech.com) the recruitment of the ESRs using an open and merit-based procedure, the selection of the members of the Supervisory Board, the Legal Agreements for the Joint Doctorate, the organization of the Kick-Off meeting; the selection of the Ambassadors and the planning of outreach activities.
WP2 (ESR and Network-Wide Training) consisted of the selection, coordination and organization of all courses, workshops, national and international conferences, internal meetings and secondments attended by the ESRs to acquire the technical and transferable skills necessary to successfully complete their specific research project.
WP3 (Molecular embryology, genetics and stem cells) helped to unravel the mechanism of sex determination in different species and to better understand certain cases of fertility disorders; to identify several miRNAs in extracellular vesicles which can be used to develop noninvasive molecular markers of metabolic stress that affects fertility; and to define treatments to improve the amniotic epithelial cell regenerative potential in stem cell-based therapies.
WP4 (Reproductive health and epidemiology) research results revealed that the serum vitamin D concentrations are not directly related to poor semen quality. Other results included confirmation of the importance of Nitric Oxide for male and female gametes function; implementation of new techniques to obtain the best possible outcome of clinical fertility preservation using cryopreservation, development of a new prototype to collect human uterine fluid and to establish the first biobank collection of human reproductive fluids.
WP5 (Reproductive technologies and embryology) helped to better understand the mechanisms underlying embryo-oviduct communication and investigated some underlying potential causes of subfertility associated with the advancement of age at puberty; a computational model of sperm capacitation (based on biological networks theory) to study of protein-protein interactions during the post-ejaculatory life of spermatozoa was created; and we analyzed the modifications induced in spermatozoa incubated with a carbon-based material such as graphene oxide.
WP6 (Epigenetics and Environment) results allowed to envision the potential use of some molecules released in extracellular vesicles as biomarkers allowing to differentiate good-quality from low-quality embryos, to expand the knowledge on the negative impact of heat stress on animal fertility, to select the most suitable time of the year to collect sperm samples to be cryopreserved in genetic resource banks, to increase the developmental outcome of oocytes and embryos exposed to the transient negative energy balance seen in postpartum dairy cows, to obtain embryos using natural bovine follicular fluid as a supplement in maturation media and use these embryos to test pregnancy rates, calving and the resulting offspring.
In WP7 (Citizens and society - Communication) the work performed focused on communication among the stakeholders and the general EU public. The Ambassadors were involved in communication activities including participation in Open Days, Week of Science, interviews on radio and TV, and visits to schools and high-schools. In addition, the website and social media accounts have been updated regularly to share varioius types of information related to the project. We have also produced explanatory videos about the project that are freely available on the project’s website.
In WP8 (Transfer of results - dissemination) the work performed focused on the dissemination of the obtained scientific results and their presentation at international forums. Rep-Biotech ESRs have attended 36 national and international conferences.
