New stem cell-based treatment for infertile men who have not been able to have biological children of their own

For men not able to produce sperm, current treatment options are extremely limited. Today, only about 20% of men who lack sperm in their ejaculate can become biological fathers through surgical interventions. This leaves 80% of infertile men without viable treatment options.

Objective

This project aims to develop groundbreaking methods to restore sperm production, offering new hope to men who currently have no options for biological parenthood. A key focus is the transplantation of testicular tissue containing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which has the potential to restart sperm production naturally.

Recent progress has already been made at Herlev Hospital, where researchers received ethical approval to conduct these transplants.

Beyond transplantation, researchers at the University of Copenhagen (KU) are also exploring laboratory-based approaches, such as proteomics in collaboration with experts from Lund University (LU).

Potential Impact

If successful, this cutting-edge approach could revolutionize male fertility treatments, making stem cell-based solutions a clinical reality. This initiative has the potential to bring life-changing options to men who previously had no chance of fatherhood.