Expertises

Reproductive Biology; Fetal gonad development; Testicular function in fetal life; Germ cell differentiation and regulation of meiosis signaling; Tissue culture models, Pathogenesis of testicular germ cell tumors; Disorders of Sex Development; Male reproductive disorders; Spermatogenesis and spermatogonial stem cells.

Main research areas

I am interested in the regulatory principles governing gonadal development in humans, from characterization of the molecular switches initiating sex determination and differentiation to organogenesis leading to the development of testes or ovaries from the bipotential gonads. In particular, my recent work has focused on the regulation of signaling cascades involved in fetal germ cell differentiation and meiosis signaling, with the aim of understanding both basic physiology as well as the molecular events causing disorders of sex development (DSD). Also, I am interested in the pathogenesis of testicular germ cell cancer and gonadal dysgenesis, in particular to characterize the precursor cell of testicular germ cell tumours called germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS).

Current research

I am currently investigating the signalling pathways directing human fetal testis, ovary and adrenal development - in normal development and in disease. In particular, I am interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that promotes sex-specific human fetal gonad differentiation, fetal germ cell differentiation in ovaries and testes as well as the regulation of endocrine function in human fetal adrenals and gonads.

Using our established and extensively validated ex vivo tissue culture approaches we specifically manipulate selected signalling pathways involved in sex-specific differentiation of the gonads, cell lineage specification, and the sex-specific fetal germ cell development – to examine effects on gonadal development, morphology, and endocrine and paracrine function. Additionally, in ex vivo tissue culture of human fetal adrenals we examine the effects of selected drugs and exposures on adrenal steroidogenesis including both classic and non-classic pathways. With the aim of exploring the contribution and importance of the alternative (backdoor) and 11-oxygenated androgens in human fetal adrenal function.  

Potential conflicts of interest

None