João Pedro Alves-Lopes

My research primarily focuses on investigating physiological and pathological factors impacting human primordial germ cell development. I received my PhD in regenerative medicine and human reproduction from Karolinska Institutet, in the lab of Professor Olle Söder. After, I moved to the UK to complete my postdoctoral studies at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, in the lab of Professor Azim Surani. Currently, I am working as an assistant professor at the NORDFERTIL research lab at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health.

Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs), the embryonic precursors of sperm and eggs, are specified in the early post-implantation embryo. Subsequently, hPGCs migrate through the primitive hindgut and dorsal mesentery into the developing gonads. After sex determination, hPGCs start to differentiate into gonocytes or oogonia in the developing testis or ovary, respectively. During this early developmental journey, hPGCs experience several selection checkpoints, which are fundamental to choosing the most suitable germ cells to pass the genetic and epigenetic information to the next generations.

My investigations converge on hPGC specification and early development, which occurs during a window of human embryonic development that we have limited access to study in vivo. To overcome these restrictions, we utilize human pluripotent stem cells and organoid cultures to model these early stages of development. Understanding the principles of hPGC specification, migration, and gonadal colonization will help us to identify the mechanisms driving some cases of infertility and the occurrence of germ cell tumours. Importantly, this knowledge will also pave the way for developing efficient protocols for in vitro gametogenesis.

• 2023– Present: Teaching at the PhD course “Write your research results and get them published”, at Karolinska Institutet.
• 2023– Present: Teaching at the PhD course “Stem Cells and Organoids Models with Focus on Regenerative Medicine”, at Karolinska Institutet.
• 2023: Main supervisor of the master’s student Inés Talaya Vidal from Karolinska Institutet.
• 2023: Supervisor of the visiting PhD student Myriam Martin Inaraja from the Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute.
• 2022– Present: Co-supervisor of the PhD student Yiqun Tang from Karolinska Institutet.
• 2022– 2023: Main supervisor of the bachelor’s student Muriel Gisa Heitsch from Karolinska Institutet.