Within the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1748, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for an initial period of four years, scientists from the fields of molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, genetics, and computer science investigate the biological mechanisms underlying testicular function, sperm development and function, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Through the close collaboration between basic research and clinical medicine, a unique research environment has been established in Münster that enables the direct translation of scientific discoveries into medical applications.

The goal of the research consortium is to gain a deeper understanding of the causes of male infertility and to develop new approaches for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. In the long term, personalized treatment strategies are expected to improve the success rates of fertility therapies while reducing the physical and emotional burden on affected individuals.

The Institute of Medical Informatics plays a central role within CRC 1748 by developing the research data and analytics infrastructure. To this end, we are building a centralized research data platform that securely integrates, manages, and provides access to molecular data, imaging data, and clinical information for researchers. At the same time, we establish the organizational and technical foundations required for privacy-compliant data exchange and the sustainable use of research data across the consortium.

Another major focus is the analysis and integration of complex biological datasets. Using modern methods in bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, we combine diverse data types to identify novel biological relationships and gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying male fertility. The analytical methods and software tools developed within the project support consortium researchers in evaluating their data and provide the foundation for innovative research approaches in reproductive medicine.