The Bornhorst-Ohmstede Lab

Infertility affects one in six adults worldwide, yet a substantial proportion of cases remain unexplained. Our research focuses on a critical and understudied dimension of reproductive biology: the role of blood and lymphatic endothelial cells (ECs) in gonadal development, homeostasis, and fertility.

We investigate how vascular networks structurally and molecularly regulate germ cell maturation, endocrine function, and overall gonadal physiology. By integrating patient-derived genomic data with vertebrate models, such as zebrafish, we aim to identify endothelial-associated mechanisms that contribute to unexplained infertility.

This comparative and mechanistic approach enables us to dissect vascular-gonadal crosstalk at cellular and molecular resolution. By bridging vascular biology and reproductive medicine, our work seeks to uncover novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, advancing both fundamental understanding and clinical management of reproductive disorders.