Nachwuchsakademie ‚Alterungsprozesse in der Reproduktion - Folgen für Fertilität und Gesundheit‘

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jörg Gromoll
• Subject Area: Reproductive Medicine, Urology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 508421992

Reproduction is a highly complex process of coordinated cellular and endocrine processes exceeding the birth of a child. In addition to a decrease in fertility in men and women, with increasing age also gonadand germ cell-specific aging processes lead to genetic, epigenetic and endocrine changes These not only represent a risk factor for sub-/infertility, but also for progeny health and those of the following generations. The molecular mechanisms that regulate reproductive aging in both sexes are still only partially understood and represent a scientifically challenging topic of research in reproductive medicine of high social relevance considering the rapidly increasing age of parents at birth of the first child. Despite such emerging research questions, the number of university departments for reproductive research in Germany is declining. Besides leading to a lack in research activities, reliable knowledge gain and therapeutic options, Germany also loses connection to the competitive international research level. The junior academy ‘Ageing in Reproduction- impact on fertility and health’ therefore intends to guide young clinicians and scientists towards independent research projects. Participants will receive a training program and support from experienced scientists (mentors) which allow them to submit well-designed pilot applications for research projects and after successful completion of this work the continuation of the scientific work by means of a full DFG-application. We hope that the complex topic of aging processes in reproduction will be accompanied by excellent research and that reproductive research as a whole will be sustainably promoted in Germany.

• DFG Programme: Workshops for Early Career Investigators