Growing human testis tissue in the lab to produce sperm
Organizing and Reorganizing Human Testis Development In Vitro
['FUNDING_R01'] · MAGEE-WOMEN'S RES INST AND FOUNDATION · NIH-11139539
Researchers are building lab systems to grow immature testis tissue into sperm so boys and men who couldn't bank sperm before cancer treatment might have biological children later.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MAGEE-WOMEN'S RES INST AND FOUNDATION (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11139539 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team will use cryopreserved immature testis tissue donated by patients to learn how human testis and sperm-producing cells develop from newborn to adult stages. They will compare three physiomimetic lab systems, including microfluidic and air–liquid interface approaches, to find conditions that support maturation of spermatogonial stem cells. Benchmarks from human tissues will guide optimization and measure progress toward generating sperm ex vivo. This work focuses on methods that could let previously infertile cancer survivors use their stored tissue for assisted reproduction in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are boys (and adolescents) who had immature testis tissue cryopreserved before gonadotoxic therapy and who donated tissue for research at the participating centers.
Not a fit: People without previously cryopreserved testis tissue, those whose infertility has other causes, or those needing immediate fertility solutions would not benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let boys who had testis tissue frozen before cancer treatment later produce sperm for use with fertility treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and a few early human tissue experiments have shown partial progress, but reliably producing fully functional human sperm in the lab is still largely unproven and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES
- MAGEE-WOMEN'S RES INST AND FOUNDATION — Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ORWIG, KYLE EDWIN — MAGEE-WOMEN'S RES INST AND FOUNDATION
- Study coordinator: ORWIG, KYLE EDWIN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.