A €150,000 Grant Offers New Hope for Young Cancer Survivors’ Fertility
How Cutting-Edge Medical Research is Paving the Way for Fertility Preservation in Children
A promising new avenue in fertility preservation is emerging, thanks to innovative medical research led by Dr. Nitzan Gonen at Bar-Ilan University. Her groundbreaking project, recently awarded a prestigious €150,000 European Research Council grant, addresses a critical gap for families of boys diagnosed with cancer. While adult men have the option of freezing sperm before chemotherapy, prepubescent boys currently lack such options to protect their future fertility as they yet to produce sperm.
Turning Research into a Lifeline
Dr. Gonen and her team have made notable progress by developing testis organoids—tiny, laboratory-grown models of testicular tissue—using mouse cells. These organoids have survived for up to nine weeks, preserving their natural structure and even initiating the early stages of sperm cell development. This promising discovery is a significant step toward a potential solution for preserving fertility in young patients.
“Currently, many families are advised to preserve testicular tissue samples from their children before chemotherapy, essentially banking on future technological advances,” says Dr. Gonen. “Our research aims to turn that hope into reality.”
The Growing Significance of Fertility in Childhood Cancer Care
As survival rates for childhood cancer continue to rise, the long-term quality of life for survivors has become a central concern. Fertility preservation is an essential part of that conversation. With the new grant funding, Dr. Gonen’s team is set to expand their work to human tissue—specifically from prepubertal testis biopsies—to see if similar human organoid development can be achieved and if such, if these can support sperm production.
Looking Ahead: Bridging Lab Breakthroughs and Family Dreams
This research goes beyond lab results; it speaks to the deeply personal hopes of families. It promises the possibility of giving childhood cancer survivors a chance to one day father biological children of their own. By bridging cutting-edge science with clinical applications, Dr. Gonen’s project—titled “Restore-Fertility”—embodies a future where families can look forward not only to survival but also to the dream of parenthood.
תאריך עדכון אחרון : 22/06/2025
