Dr. Ola Gutzeit, Head of the Fertility Preservation Clinic, IVF Unit at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel and an associate member of the hospital's Clinical Research Institute is conducting groundbreaking solutions for fertility preservation. Her research—featuring organ-on-a-chip technology and 3D bioprinted tissue—offers new hope for individuals facing certain types of infertility.
The female reproductive system is complex – influenced by hormonal fluctuations and the menstrual cycle. Compared to other medical fields, this body system presents study challenges – hence relatively little is known. This complexity, combined with the historical exclusion of women of childbearing age from clinical trials—due to concerns about pregnancy and fetal safety—has left significant gaps in reproductive medicine. In fact, over the past five decades, few new therapies have been introduced in this field.
However, recent advances in bioengineering are transforming the field. One such breakthrough is organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology—miniaturized microfluidic devices lined with patient-derived human cells that replicate the structure and function of real human organs. These chips simulate essential physiological processes such as blood flow, hormone signaling, and immune interactions, offering a powerful platform for studying human biology, disease mechanisms, and drug responses in a precisely controlled laboratory setting.
Dr. Gutzeit is at the forefront of this breakthrough. As part of a collaborative team, she helped develop a chip-based model of the female reproductive system that mimics the structure and function of the vagina and cervix. This platform allows researchers to investigate conditions that were previously difficult to study.
Gutzeit's research indicates that female microbiomes affect cervical-vaginal communication, which changes during menstrual cycle. The cervix plays a significant role in treating recurring infections that are often impossible to prevent and affect quality of life. She explains that cervical inflammation due to infection affects the bacterial balance in the vagina and can contribute to infertility.
The Impact of Bacterial Balance on Sperm
Organ-on-a-chip experiments have demonstrated that specific bacterial environments can kill sperm or impair their activity. If the environment can be adjusted and hormones controlled, sperm can function successfully, thus reversing infertility.
But how can that be done? According to Gutzeit, one solution might be to bypass the bacterial environment to facilitate successful insemination and fertilization. One method is administering antibiotics when fertilization is most likely to occur. Another option is in vitro fertilization (IVF); however, it can be dangerous, painful, and accompanied by multiple side effects.
The Impact of Chemotherapy on Fertility
Chemotherapy can significantly damage female fertility. Gutzeit, is investigating these effects and developing innovative fertility preservation strategies.
In collaboration with Professor Shulamit Levenberg from the Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory at the Technion's Faculty of Biomedical Engineering and her 3D tissue engineering lab, Gutzeit is advancing a novel approach to protect and restore fertility in cancer patients by bioprinting healthy tissue for future use once treatments are complete. If eggs and ovarian tissue can be preserved before chemotherapy, the chances of pregnancy rise to 50%.
Dr. Gutzeit is driven by a clear mission—she is motivated by a commitment to bridge science and patient care and translate scientific insights into real-world solutions. Her work aims to revolutionize the way female infertility is understood, diagnosed, and treated.
