How sperm calcium and energy affect fertility and IVF success
Sperm Ca2+ signaling and energy pathways in basic science and ART
This project looks at how calcium signals and energy use in sperm influence their movement and ability to fertilize an egg, with the aim of helping people with male-factor infertility or couples using IVF/ICSI.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11084285 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying sperm cells in the lab to understand how calcium signaling and metabolic energy control sperm movement and fertilizing power. They use laboratory experiments including brief exposure of sperm to a calcium ionophore and nutrient starvation-and-rescue steps, and they monitor sperm motility, hyperactivation, and fertilization in vitro. Much of the work uses animal and genetic models to probe basic mechanisms that also apply to human assisted reproductive technologies. The team hopes findings will point to ways to improve sperm preparation or treatments used in IVF and ICSI.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most directly aligned with this work are men with sperm motility or functional sperm problems and couples planning or undergoing ART like IVF or ICSI.
Not a fit: People whose infertility is caused only by egg quality, uterine/structural issues, or unrelated genetic conditions are less likely to benefit from sperm-focused findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new methods to improve sperm quality and increase success rates for IVF, ICSI, and other fertility treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal-model work has shown that manipulating calcium signals or metabolic conditions can restore sperm motility and improve in vitro fertilization rates, but routine human application remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Visconti, Pablo E. — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Visconti, Pablo E.
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.