In vitro gametogenesis
Within this line of research, the 'Reproductive Medicine Research Group' focuses on the in vitro generation of germ cells. Research is always conducted under the supervision of Prof. Björn Heindryckx (PI) and Dr. Annekatrien Boel (post-doc).
Research projects
Human embryonic stem cell research
Human embryonic stem cell research involves deriving pluripotent embryonic stem cells from human embryos, optimizing the culture conditions to obtain an optimal pluripotency state, and finally in vitro differentiation of these embryonic stem cells into reproductive cells.
- researchers: Swati Mishra
- funding: Research Foundation (FWO) for Strategic Basic Research, Special Research Fund (BOF-GOA) and the Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology
Development of ova from ovarian tissue
Because of fertility preservation at the start of, for example, cancer treatment, it is sometimes chosen to freeze ovarian tissue. Within this research project it is determined, both in mouse and human, whether it is possible to develop functional and qualitative ova from this ovarian tissue in vitro, starting from immature follicles.
- researchers: Antonia Christodoulaki, He Haitaing
- funding: Research Foundation (FWO), Special Research Fund (BOF-GOA) and Chinese financing
Collaborations
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG), Ghent University (Prof. Paul Coucke, Prof. Björn Menten, Prof. Frank Speleman, Prof. Elfride Debaere)
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University (Prof. Filip Van Nieuwenburgh, Prof. Dieter Deforce)
- Medical Cell Biology, Ghent University (Prof. Jolanda Van Hengel)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (Prof. Ann Van Soom, Prof. Luc Peelman)
- Leiden University Medical Center (Prof. Susana Chuva de Sousa Lopes)