The ContraPur research project brings together scientists from various disciplines to develop a novel, non-hormonal contraceptive method for men. The project focuses on a largely overlooked biological mechanism in the testis that regulates sperm transport and is triggered by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an endogenous molecule best known as the cell’s primary energy currency.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the local release of ATP induces contractions of specialized smooth muscle-like cells surrounding the seminiferous tubules. These contractions are essential for the transport of mature, yet still immotile, spermatozoa within the testis.

The aim of ContraPur is to selectively and reversibly inhibit this process. By doing so, the project seeks to achieve temporary infertility without affecting long-term fertility or disrupting hormonal balance.

Within the project, the Institute of Medical Informatics plays a central role in the analysis and integration of multi-omics datasets. Through the integrative evaluation of transcriptomic, epigenomic, and other molecular data, we provide the foundation for identifying key regulatory nodes within the ATP-mediated signaling pathway.

ContraPur is part of a collaborative research consortium and is conducted in cooperation with the Centrum for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology (CeRA) at the University of Münster.
 

Contact: Ciara Parry, M.Sc.

Funding reference number:  1GR2503B