Preserving ovarian tissue without ice for fertility in young cancer survivors
Official title: Type-7: Isochoric Pressure Based Preservation of Ovarian Tissue
Funded at Expanse Bio LLC · NIH-10974454 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to safely freeze ovarian tissue without ice, to help young cancer survivors keep their ability to have children and maintain hormonal health after their treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Expanse Bio LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $541,602 |
| NIH project number | 7R44HD089832-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10974454 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults who are cancer survivors and are at risk of losing their fertility due to medical treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not cancer survivors or those who do not require fertility preservation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative methods to preserve ovarian tissue using an ice-free technique called isochoric vitrification. By utilizing advanced cryopreservation cocktails and machine perfusion, the project aims to create a viable solution for fertility preservation in children and young adults who have undergone treatments for diseases like cancer. The goal is to ensure that these individuals can maintain their fertility and hormonal function after potentially damaging treatments. The research is particularly relevant for the 650,000 young cancer survivors in the U.S. who may face fertility challenges due to their medical history.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a groundbreaking method for preserving fertility in young cancer survivors, allowing them to have children in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in ice-free preservation techniques, but this specific approach is novel and aims to scale these methods for broader application.
Where this research is happening
-
Expanse Bio LLC
North Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weegman, Bradley P — Expanse Bio LLC
- Study coordinator: Weegman, Bradley P
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.