fertiliMMUNE · Systems-level investigation of the immune-reproductive crosstalk in humans

Infertility affects 1 in 6 adults worldwide. Current infertility therapies overlook its underlying causes, resulting in pregnancy success rates as low as 30%. Together with the emotional, financial, and societal toll of infertility, this low efficacy underscores the urgent need for more precise interventions. fertiliMMUNE aims to uncover mechanisms of human immune-reproductive crosstalk and define novel targets for fertility treatment.Reproduction and immunity are deeply intertwined, highlighting the immune system as a promising target for fertility treatment. A successful pregnancy requires coordinated immunological adaptations that already start at conception. Yet major gaps still exist in understanding i) the mechanisms of interactions between the immune and the reproductive systems, and ii) the impact of these on pregnancy outcomes. Systems immunology combines multi-omics methods and innovative computational approaches to understand the complexity of the immune system and its components. My expertise in systems immunology (Consiglio et al, 2020 Cell) and reproductive sex hormone modulation of human immunity (Lakshmikanth*, Consiglio* et al, 2024 Nature) provides a unique perspective to dissect immune-reproductive networks that are critical for human immune function and reproductive success.fertiliMMUNE will elucidate the immune-reproductive crosstalk at unprecedented detail in humans. Work package 1 (WP1) will employ systems-level longitudinal immune profiling during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to dissect how sex hormones regulate the immune system in vivo. WP2 will identify immune signatures at baseline and in response to IVF treatment that predict IVF success. WP3 will comprehensively characterize the direct regulatory mechanisms of sex hormones in immune cells of healthy women and men in vitro.fertiliMMUNE will provide key insights into immune-reproductive co-regulation and pave the way for personalized fertility treatments that improve IVF outcomes.