The project, called “FERTI$CAN”, focuses on identifying biomarkers, such as proteins and ribonucleic acids present in sperm, to assess their functional quality.

The diagnosis of male infertility is mainly based on basic semen analysis, which evaluates parameters such as sperm concentration, motility, and viability.

In about 30% of cases, these tests show normal results, making it impossible to identify the cause of infertility.

“It is precisely in this group of situations with unknown causes that FERTI$CAN intends to intervene,” explains the project coordinator, Joana Santiago, a professor in the Department of Medical Sciences and also a researcher at the Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED) of the University of Aveiro.

The main objective of the project is to identify a panel of molecular biomarkers, such as proteins and ribonucleic acids (RNA), present inside sperm and directly associated with successful fertilisation.

“These markers have very specific functions in sperm, and their absence, presence at reduced levels, or excess can compromise essential stages of fertilisation, such as the digestion of the zona pellucida of the oocyte, preventing pregnancy from occurring,” emphasises the researcher.

“If we know that a protein essential to fertilisation is absent in an individual's sperm, we can predict that natural pregnancy will be unlikely, allowing us to refer the couple to a technique such as in vitro fertilisation, with a higher probability of success,” adds Joana Santiago.

The project involves the participation of researchers Margarida Fardilha and Teresa Herdeiro, doctoral student in Biomedicine Pedro Corda, and Master's student in Biochemistry Vanessa Bowen.

The study also includes the collaboration of experts from the Local Health Units of the Aveiro Region and from Gaia and Espinho.