EndoCompass project: research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology

Martine Cools; Csilla Krausz; Anders Juul; Djuro Macut; Marianne Skovsager Andersen; Anna-Maria Andersson; Cynthia L Andoniadou; S Faisal Ahmed; Julie Bakker; Anu Bashamboo; Hermann M Behre; Marco Bonomi; Alexander Siegfried Busch; Chloë De Roo; Arianne Dessens; Muhammad Fakhar-I-Adil; Flaminia Fanelli; Alessandra Daphne Fisher; Christa Flück; Alessandra Gambineri; Aleksander Giwercman; Claus H Gravholt; Sabine Hannema; Björn Heindryckx; Olaf Hiort; Nadine C Hornig; Sasha Howard; Lourdes Ibáñez; Martin Blomberg Jensen; Niels Jørgensen; Sarantis Livadas; Angela Lucas-Herald; George Mastorakos; Maria Cristina Meriggiola; Ken Ong; Milica Opalic Palibrk; Duarte Pignatelli; Nelly Pitteloud; Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts; Rodolfo Rey; Ralitsa Robeva; Carlotta Pozza; Stefan Schlatt; Giorgia Spaggiari; Lloyd Tack; Manuel Tena-Sempere; Herman Tournaye; Guy T'Sjoen; Norah Van Mello; Walter Vena; Bulent O Yildiz; Francis de Zegher

doi:10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069

EndoCompass project: research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology

Martine Cools, Csilla Krausz^*, Anders Juul, Djuro Macut, Marianne Skovsager Andersen, Anna-Maria Andersson, Cynthia L Andoniadou, S Faisal Ahmed, Julie Bakker, Anu Bashamboo, Hermann M Behre, Marco Bonomi, Alexander Siegfried Busch, Chloë De Roo, Arianne Dessens, Muhammad Fakhar-I-Adil, Flaminia Fanelli, Alessandra Daphne Fisher, Christa Flück, Alessandra GambineriAleksander Giwercman, Claus H Gravholt, Sabine Hannema, Björn Heindryckx, Olaf Hiort, Nadine C Hornig, Sasha Howard, Lourdes Ibáñez, Martin Blomberg Jensen, Niels Jørgensen, Sarantis Livadas, Angela Lucas-Herald, George Mastorakos, Maria Cristina Meriggiola, Ken Ong, Milica Opalic Palibrk, Duarte Pignatelli, Nelly Pitteloud, Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts, Rodolfo Rey, Ralitsa Robeva, Carlotta Pozza, Stefan Schlatt, Giorgia Spaggiari, Lloyd Tack, Manuel Tena-Sempere, Herman Tournaye, Guy T'Sjoen, Norah Van Mello, Walter Vena, Bulent O Yildiz, Francis de Zegher

^*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endocrine science remains underrepresented in European Union research programs despite the fundamental role of hormone health in human wellbeing. Analysis of the CORDIS database reveals a persistent gap between the societal impact of endocrine disorders and their research prioritization. At national funding level, endocrine societies report limited or little attention of national research funding towards endocrinology. The EndoCompass project-a joint initiative between the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology, aimed to identify and promote strategic research priorities in endocrine science to address critical hormone-related health challenges.

METHODS: Research priorities were established through comprehensive analysis of the EU CORDIS database covering the Horizon 2020 framework period (2014-2020). Expert consultation was conducted to identify key research priorities, followed by broader stakeholder engagement including society members and patient advocacy groups.

RESULTS: Research priorities encompass variations in sex development, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal regulation, and female and male reproductive disorders. Key areas include improving diagnostic capacity through (epi)genetic analysis, optimizing hormonal treatments, developing fertility preservation strategies. Special emphasis is placed on establishing pan-European registries, developing novel reproductive technologies, and exploring environmental impacts on reproductive health.

CONCLUSIONS: This component of the EndoCompass project provides an evidence-based roadmap for strategic research investment. This framework identifies crucial investigation areas into reproductive and developmental endocrinology pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment strategies, ultimately aimed at reducing the burden of these disorders on individuals and society. The findings support the broader EndoCompass objective of aligning research funding with areas of the highest potential impact in endocrine health.

Original language	English
Journal	European Journal of Endocrinology
Volume	193
Issue number	Supplement_2
Pages (from-to)	ii97-ii116
ISSN	0804-4643
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069
Publication status	Published - 17 Oct 2025

Keywords

Humans
Endocrinology/trends
Female
Male
Biomedical Research/trends
Endocrine System Diseases/therapy
Databases, Factual
European Union
Reproduction/physiology
funding
EndoCompass
HPG axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal
roadmap)
reproduction

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Cools, M., Krausz, C., Juul, A., Macut, D., Andersen, M. S., Andersson, A.-M., Andoniadou, C. L., Ahmed, S. F., Bakker, J., Bashamboo, A., Behre, H. M., Bonomi, M., Busch, A. S., De Roo, C., Dessens, A., Fakhar-I-Adil, M., Fanelli, F., Fisher, A. D., Flück, C., ... de Zegher, F. (2025). EndoCompass project: research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology. European Journal of Endocrinology, 193(Supplement_2), ii97-ii116. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069

Cools, M, Krausz, C, Juul, A, Macut, D, Andersen, MS, Andersson, A-M, Andoniadou, CL, Ahmed, SF, Bakker, J, Bashamboo, A, Behre, HM, Bonomi, M, Busch, AS, De Roo, C, Dessens, A, Fakhar-I-Adil, M, Fanelli, F, Fisher, AD, Flück, C, Gambineri, A, Giwercman, A, Gravholt, CH, Hannema, S, Heindryckx, B, Hiort, O, Hornig, NC, Howard, S, Ibáñez, L, Blomberg Jensen, M , Jørgensen, N, Livadas, S, Lucas-Herald, A, Mastorakos, G, Meriggiola, MC, Ong, K, Opalic Palibrk, M, Pignatelli, D, Pitteloud, N, Rajpert-De Meyts, E, Rey, R, Robeva, R, Pozza, C, Schlatt, S, Spaggiari, G, Tack, L, Tena-Sempere, M, Tournaye, H, T'Sjoen, G, Van Mello, N, Vena, W, Yildiz, BO & de Zegher, F 2025, 'EndoCompass project: research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology', European Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 193, no. Supplement_2, pp. ii97-ii116. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069

@article{d0120757e35a4a69a5af8fab84ee0ccb,

title = "EndoCompass project: research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Endocrine science remains underrepresented in European Union research programs despite the fundamental role of hormone health in human wellbeing. Analysis of the CORDIS database reveals a persistent gap between the societal impact of endocrine disorders and their research prioritization. At national funding level, endocrine societies report limited or little attention of national research funding towards endocrinology. The EndoCompass project-a joint initiative between the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology, aimed to identify and promote strategic research priorities in endocrine science to address critical hormone-related health challenges.METHODS: Research priorities were established through comprehensive analysis of the EU CORDIS database covering the Horizon 2020 framework period (2014-2020). Expert consultation was conducted to identify key research priorities, followed by broader stakeholder engagement including society members and patient advocacy groups.RESULTS: Research priorities encompass variations in sex development, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal regulation, and female and male reproductive disorders. Key areas include improving diagnostic capacity through (epi)genetic analysis, optimizing hormonal treatments, developing fertility preservation strategies. Special emphasis is placed on establishing pan-European registries, developing novel reproductive technologies, and exploring environmental impacts on reproductive health.CONCLUSIONS: This component of the EndoCompass project provides an evidence-based roadmap for strategic research investment. This framework identifies crucial investigation areas into reproductive and developmental endocrinology pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment strategies, ultimately aimed at reducing the burden of these disorders on individuals and society. The findings support the broader EndoCompass objective of aligning research funding with areas of the highest potential impact in endocrine health.",

keywords = "Humans, Endocrinology/trends, Female, Male, Biomedical Research/trends, Endocrine System Diseases/therapy, Databases, Factual, European Union, Reproduction/physiology, funding, EndoCompass, HPG axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, roadmap), reproduction",

author = "Martine Cools and Csilla Krausz and Anders Juul and Djuro Macut and Andersen, \{Marianne Skovsager\} and Anna-Maria Andersson and Andoniadou, \{Cynthia L\} and Ahmed, \{S Faisal\} and Julie Bakker and Anu Bashamboo and Behre, \{Hermann M\} and Marco Bonomi and Busch, \{Alexander Siegfried\} and \{De Roo\}, Chlo{\"e} and Arianne Dessens and Muhammad Fakhar-I-Adil and Flaminia Fanelli and Fisher, \{Alessandra Daphne\} and Christa Fl{\"u}ck and Alessandra Gambineri and Aleksander Giwercman and Gravholt, \{Claus H\} and Sabine Hannema and Bj{\"o}rn Heindryckx and Olaf Hiort and Hornig, \{Nadine C\} and Sasha Howard and Lourdes Ib{\'a}{\~n}ez and \{Blomberg Jensen\}, Martin and Niels J{\o}rgensen and Sarantis Livadas and Angela Lucas-Herald and George Mastorakos and Meriggiola, \{Maria Cristina\} and Ken Ong and \{Opalic Palibrk\}, Milica and Duarte Pignatelli and Nelly Pitteloud and \{Rajpert-De Meyts\}, Ewa and Rodolfo Rey and Ralitsa Robeva and Carlotta Pozza and Stefan Schlatt and Giorgia Spaggiari and Lloyd Tack and Manuel Tena-Sempere and Herman Tournaye and Guy T'Sjoen and \{Van Mello\}, Norah and Walter Vena and Yildiz, \{Bulent O\} and \{de Zegher\}, Francis",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Endocrinology.",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069",

language = "English",

volume = "193",

pages = "ii97--ii116",

journal = "European Journal of Endocrinology",

issn = "0804-4643",

publisher = "BioScientifica Ltd.",

number = "Supplement\_2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - EndoCompass project

T2 - research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology

AU - Cools, Martine

AU - Krausz, Csilla

AU - Juul, Anders

AU - Macut, Djuro

AU - Andersen, Marianne Skovsager

AU - Andersson, Anna-Maria

AU - Andoniadou, Cynthia L

AU - Ahmed, S Faisal

AU - Bakker, Julie

AU - Bashamboo, Anu

AU - Behre, Hermann M

AU - Bonomi, Marco

AU - Busch, Alexander Siegfried

AU - De Roo, Chloë

AU - Dessens, Arianne

AU - Fakhar-I-Adil, Muhammad

AU - Fanelli, Flaminia

AU - Fisher, Alessandra Daphne

AU - Flück, Christa

AU - Gambineri, Alessandra

AU - Giwercman, Aleksander

AU - Gravholt, Claus H

AU - Hannema, Sabine

AU - Heindryckx, Björn

AU - Hiort, Olaf

AU - Hornig, Nadine C

AU - Howard, Sasha

AU - Ibáñez, Lourdes

AU - Blomberg Jensen, Martin

AU - Jørgensen, Niels

AU - Livadas, Sarantis

AU - Lucas-Herald, Angela

AU - Mastorakos, George

AU - Meriggiola, Maria Cristina

AU - Ong, Ken

AU - Opalic Palibrk, Milica

AU - Pignatelli, Duarte

AU - Pitteloud, Nelly

AU - Rajpert-De Meyts, Ewa

AU - Rey, Rodolfo

AU - Robeva, Ralitsa

AU - Pozza, Carlotta

AU - Schlatt, Stefan

AU - Spaggiari, Giorgia

AU - Tack, Lloyd

AU - Tena-Sempere, Manuel

AU - Tournaye, Herman

AU - T'Sjoen, Guy

AU - Van Mello, Norah

AU - Vena, Walter

AU - Yildiz, Bulent O

AU - de Zegher, Francis

PY - 2025/10/17

Y1 - 2025/10/17

N2 - BACKGROUND: Endocrine science remains underrepresented in European Union research programs despite the fundamental role of hormone health in human wellbeing. Analysis of the CORDIS database reveals a persistent gap between the societal impact of endocrine disorders and their research prioritization. At national funding level, endocrine societies report limited or little attention of national research funding towards endocrinology. The EndoCompass project-a joint initiative between the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology, aimed to identify and promote strategic research priorities in endocrine science to address critical hormone-related health challenges.METHODS: Research priorities were established through comprehensive analysis of the EU CORDIS database covering the Horizon 2020 framework period (2014-2020). Expert consultation was conducted to identify key research priorities, followed by broader stakeholder engagement including society members and patient advocacy groups.RESULTS: Research priorities encompass variations in sex development, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal regulation, and female and male reproductive disorders. Key areas include improving diagnostic capacity through (epi)genetic analysis, optimizing hormonal treatments, developing fertility preservation strategies. Special emphasis is placed on establishing pan-European registries, developing novel reproductive technologies, and exploring environmental impacts on reproductive health.CONCLUSIONS: This component of the EndoCompass project provides an evidence-based roadmap for strategic research investment. This framework identifies crucial investigation areas into reproductive and developmental endocrinology pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment strategies, ultimately aimed at reducing the burden of these disorders on individuals and society. The findings support the broader EndoCompass objective of aligning research funding with areas of the highest potential impact in endocrine health.

AB - BACKGROUND: Endocrine science remains underrepresented in European Union research programs despite the fundamental role of hormone health in human wellbeing. Analysis of the CORDIS database reveals a persistent gap between the societal impact of endocrine disorders and their research prioritization. At national funding level, endocrine societies report limited or little attention of national research funding towards endocrinology. The EndoCompass project-a joint initiative between the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology, aimed to identify and promote strategic research priorities in endocrine science to address critical hormone-related health challenges.METHODS: Research priorities were established through comprehensive analysis of the EU CORDIS database covering the Horizon 2020 framework period (2014-2020). Expert consultation was conducted to identify key research priorities, followed by broader stakeholder engagement including society members and patient advocacy groups.RESULTS: Research priorities encompass variations in sex development, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal regulation, and female and male reproductive disorders. Key areas include improving diagnostic capacity through (epi)genetic analysis, optimizing hormonal treatments, developing fertility preservation strategies. Special emphasis is placed on establishing pan-European registries, developing novel reproductive technologies, and exploring environmental impacts on reproductive health.CONCLUSIONS: This component of the EndoCompass project provides an evidence-based roadmap for strategic research investment. This framework identifies crucial investigation areas into reproductive and developmental endocrinology pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment strategies, ultimately aimed at reducing the burden of these disorders on individuals and society. The findings support the broader EndoCompass objective of aligning research funding with areas of the highest potential impact in endocrine health.

KW - Humans

KW - Endocrinology/trends

KW - Female

KW - Male

KW - Biomedical Research/trends

KW - Endocrine System Diseases/therapy

KW - Databases, Factual

KW - European Union

KW - Reproduction/physiology

KW - funding

KW - EndoCompass

KW - HPG axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal

KW - roadmap)

KW - reproduction

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019113494

U2 - 10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069

DO - 10.1093/ejendo/lvaf069

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 41104478

SN - 0804-4643

VL - 193

SP - ii97-ii116

JO - European Journal of Endocrinology

JF - European Journal of Endocrinology

IS - Supplement_2

ER -

EndoCompass project: research roadmap for reproductive and developmental endocrinology

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