Katerina B Damyanova ESA-SRB 2023 in conjunction with ENSA

Katerina B Damyanova

Katerina is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Reproductive and Family Health Research Program at the University of Newcastle, where she works in the group of Dr Tessa Lord, an established figure in spermatogonial stem cell biology. Her research focuses on understanding the functional regulation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), with the primary aim of enhancing their practical applications in clinical and conservation contexts. With a diverse scientific background that spans medical pharmacology, clinical research, and expertise in women’s reproductive health and male fertility preservation, Katerina brings a well-rounded perspective to her research. She recently completed her PhD under the guidance of Dr Lord, investigating the impact of hypoxic niche microenvironments and cellular metabolism on SSC function, with a specific focus on utilising SSCs for koala conservation. Her postdoctoral work now centres on advancing SSC applications in a paediatric oncofertility context. Her research interests extend to identifying conserved signalling pathways related to SSC self-renewal, aiming to bridge insights gained from model organisms to contribute to the conservation of endangered wildlife and refine SSC in vitro maintenance.