Male fertility research group

Our group

We are a nationally recognized team of clinical experts on male fertility, male hypogonadism, oncofertility and fertility preservation including testicular sperm extraction (TESE), gonadal development and testicular cancer.

Research focus

Our research activities focus on:

• the role of genetics, epigenetics and the environment including lifestyle and endocrine disruptors in abnormal male genital development
• prediction and diagnosis of germ cell tumors in men with fertility problems
• the relation between (in)fertility and germ cell tumors
• the quality of sperm cells as a predictor of pregnancy success in TESE for intra cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI).

We have established a biobank with TESE and ejaculated sperm biomaterials for research.

Recent scientific achievements include advancements in fundamental insights and clinical management for:

• Cryptorchidism, gonadal function and male fertility
• Male hypogonadism and Men`s Health
• Oncofertility and early diagnosis of testicular cancer
• Non-obstructive azoospermia

A complete overview of publications can be found here:

• Gert Dohle.
• Marij Dinkelman-Smit, (formerly Marij Smit)
• Willem Boellaard.

Publications

Cellular origin of microRNA-371a-3p in healthy males based on systematic urogenital tract tissue evaluation.
Boellaard WPA, Gillis AJM, van Leenders GJLH, Stoop H, van Agthoven T, Dorssers LCJ, Dinkelman-Smit M, Boormans JL, Looijenga LHJ. (2019). Andrology 2019;7:463-68. PMID: 30786164.

What are the benefits and harms of testosterone therapy for male sexual dysfunction? - a systematic review.
Dimitropoulos K, Verze P, Van den Broeck T, Salonia A, Yuan CY, Hatzimouratidis K, Dohle G. (2019). Int J Impot Res. 2019.

Sperm DNA damage measured by sperm chromatin structure assay in men with a history of undescended testes.
Van Brakel J, Dinkelman-Smit M, de Muinck Keizer-Schrama SMPF, Hazebroek FWJ, Dohle GR. (2017). Andrology 2017;5:838-43.

European Association of Urology Position Statement on the Role of the Urologist in the Management of Male Hypogonadism and Testosterone Therapy.
Mirone V, Debruyne F, Dohle G, Salonia A, Sofikitis N, Verze P, Fode M, Chapple C and URO-TRAM working group. (2017). Eur Urol 2017;72:164-7.

Etiology and early pathogenesis of malignant testicular germ cell tumors: towards possibilities for preinvasive diagnosis.
Elzinga-Tinke JE, Dohle GR, Looijenga LH. (2015). Asian J Androl 2015;17(3):381-93.

• Collaboration within of Erasmus MC
  Generation R.
  Department of Developmental Biology.
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, sub-department Reproductive Medicine.
  Erasmus MC Academic Center of Excellence Mother and Child.

• Collaboration outside of Erasmus MC
  Prof. Leendert Looijenga (Princess Máxima Center).

Dutch Stichting Kwaliteitsgelden Medisch Specialist (SKMS) grant for the development of a Dutch Association of Urology guideline for obstructive azoospermia (M. Dinkelman-Smit)

Foundation for Urological Scientific Research (SUWO) grant for the evaluation of molecular biomarkers for germ cells in semen (W.P.A. Boellaard)

Principal Investigator

• Willem Boellaard MSc (urologist-sexologist)
  contact
  

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  G.R. (Gert) Dohle, MD

  Principal investigator

• 

  M. (Marij) Dinkelman-Smit, PhD

  Urologist, Andrologist