Press Releases

The spin-off of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, launched in January 2025, is developing novel therapeutics to improve the quality of human egg cells. The compounds are intended to help women remain fertile for a longer time and to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy or in vitro fertilization (IVF). more

A woman's egg cells are already formed in her body before she is born. However, with increasing age, DNA damage accumulates in the cells. Researchers have revealed why the cell’s own repair mechanisms do not fix this damage. more

Researchers have succeeded in visualizing the entire process of ovulation in mouse follicles in real-time for the first time. The new live imaging technique allows to study ovulation with high spatial and temporal resolution and opens up new possibilities in fertility research. more

Female mammals, including humans, are born with all of their egg cells. Some egg cells therefore survive for several decades – and need to remain functional over this long time. Extremely long-lived proteins in the ovary seem to play an important role in this and may help maintain fertility for as long as possible. more

Until a mammalian embryo implants in the uterus, the egg cell has to supply it with everything it needs to survive, including essential proteins. Researchers have now elucidated how egg cells store these proteins. Their experiments also provide important insights into how errors in protein storage can lead to infertility. Structures of the egg cell that have puzzled scientists for over 60 years play a crucial role in this. more