Periodic Reporting for period 4 - OVO-GROWTH (Oogenesis spotlighted: making mature human oocytes)
Période du rapport: 2022-01-01 au 2023-02-28
Our overall objective was to understand the process that leads to egg maturation in humans and achieve maturation of human eggs in vitro.
During the project, we have first provided a comprehensive analysis of the key cellular components, developmental networks and molecular signalling in the human ovary during development and adulthood. We have characterized both follicular growth and follicular degeneration (atresia) and focused not only on the oocyte biology and also on the dynamics of the surrounding cellular niche. We have investigated the role of the immune system and vasculature. Thereafter, we have invested in innovative culture methods to promote the egg maturation in vitro.
In conclusion, this challenging and ambitious project has led to a robust foundation to allow progress in innovative protocols to increase options regarding female health management and reproduction.
Our work has the potential to refine and transform fertility preservation options, impacting the quality of life of a growing number of people that include oncological patients and transgender man. As international recognition, I was invited to deliver the Anne McLaren Memorial Lecture at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in 2021.
Due to extensive knowhow acquired during this project, I was invited to join the EU-expert taskforce to create an evidence-based guideline from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) on Female Fertility Preservation, and I was invited to join the EU-expert taskforce advising on the Reproductive and Development Systems to the European Space Agency (ESA) SciSpacE roadmap, providing me with a larger international platform to disseminate the work developed during the project.
Having the research protocol translated into a suitable clinic protocol would enlarge the group of patients that could benefit from fertility preservation, avoiding a surgical procedure (transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortex into the patient) and allow innovation in medical assisted reproduction as ovarian hormonal stimulation would no longer be necessary prior to oocyte pick up.
In addition to a more effective personalized-therapy for fertility preservation, the project has contributed to develop an in vitro mini-ovary organoid model that can be applied to human reproductive toxicology and disease modelling.