OvelleOvelle

Our science

Reconstructing how the ovary creates an egg.

We are working to recreate human egg development in the laboratory by combining stem cell biology, computation, and high-throughput screening.

Fluorescence microscopy showing meiosis induction in Ovelle’s research
Meiosis induction from human iPSCs · Ovelle

In vitro gametogenesis

A new way to produce eggs.

In vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, is the process of creating eggs from ordinary cells outside the body.

A woman’s cells can first be converted into stem cells. From there, they can be guided through the stages of development that produce an egg. Those eggs could ultimately be used in IVF.

Our approach

Prediction and experiment, in a continuous loop.

01

Computational screening

Use data and advanced models to identify the genes that guide meiosis and ovarian development.

02

Laboratory validation

Test those biological instructions in human stem cells and observe how they influence cell identity.

03

Data-driven iteration

Measure the results, improve our models, and use every experiment to design a better next one.

Fluorescence microscopy showing meiosis induction from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Meiosis induction from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Scale bar: 50 μm.

A critical milestone

Inducing meiosis in human cells.

Meiosis is the specialized form of cell division required to produce an egg. Activating it has been a key challenge in human IVG.

Ovelle has produced meiotic oogonia-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells by controlling the expression of selected genes and RNA-binding proteins. We are now working to place these cells in ovarian organoids that recreate the supporting environment an egg needs to grow and mature.

The path ahead

From an ordinary cell to a mature egg.

IVG requires two essential components: egg precursor cells created from a woman’s own cells and ovarian supporting cells that help them grow. Ovelle is working to produce both and bring them together in the laboratory.

From a woman’s cells to a mature eggCells are converted into stem cells, then split into two paths that create ovarian support cells and egg precursor cells. The two paths recombine in reconstructed follicles before the egg grows and matures.01A woman’s cells02Stem cells03AOvarian support cells03BResetprecursor cells04BEgg precursor cells05Reconstructedfollicles06Immature egg07Mature eggFrom a woman’s cells to a mature eggCells are converted into stem cells, then split into two paths that create ovarian support cells and egg precursor cells. The two paths recombine in reconstructed follicles before the egg grows and matures.01A woman’s cells02Stem cells03AOvariansupport cells03BResetprecursor cells04BEgg precursorcells05Reconstructedfollicles06Immatureegg07Matureegg
01

Begin with a sample

Collect ordinary cells through a blood draw or small tissue sample and convert them into stem cells.

02

Build both components

Create egg precursor cells from a woman’s own cells, then combine them with ovarian supporting cells that help them grow and mature.

03

Recombine and mature

Bring the two cell types together in reconstructed follicles, then support the egg as it grows and matures.

Scientific work

Help us solve what comes next.

Join a small team working at the frontier of human developmental biology.

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