SWCC Blog

Testicular organoids may one day offer hope to childhood cancer survivors facing infertility who want to start a family

By Anja Elsenhans   •    November 10, 2025

Science Explained

As a male patient, what would you do if you knew you might face fertility issues in the future? For adults, the answer is often simple: sperm banking. But for young cancer patients who have not yet gone through puberty, sperm banking is off the table.

Infertility is a common side effect of cancer therapy. Saving a child's life is, of course, the top priority. But they might not be able to fully understand the impact infertility will have on their future. As childhood cancer survival rates keep improving, more and more adult survivors are facing infertility as a consequence of their treatment.

Organoids may be one piece of the puzzle to help childhood cancer survivors live life on their own terms following cancer treatment. Organoids are lab-grown “mini organs” that can mimic the structure and function of real organs. This makes them a versatile tool for research with many potential real-world applications. Scientists are currently exploring how testicular organoids could one day offer a new path toward regaining fertility.

Making sperm

In the testicles, specialized cells – called germ cells – develop into sperm through a process known as “spermatogenesis”. Young males start to make sperm at the beginning of puberty. But until then, the germ cells within the testicles are immature, waiting and preparing to become sperm one day.

With the start of puberty, the wait is over. Germ cells begin the complex and multi-step process of spermatogenesis. It takes about 2 months for a germ cell to complete all steps of this process and become sperm. If those germ cells are damaged before puberty, because of cancer treatment, for example, they cannot go through spermatogenesis.

To tackle this issue, scientists are exploring ways to make sperm outside of the human body. Lab-grown “mini testicles”, called testicular organoids, have the potential to mimic the function of real testicles and produce sperm.

Testicular organoids today

Researchers around the world have already made testicular organoids for many species, including mice, pigs, and of course humans. Generally, cells can be isolated from a small piece of testicular tissue. The isolated cells contain a mix of different cell types found in the testicles, including the germ cells. When this mix of cells is forced into close proximity, the cells are often able to form organoids on their own.

Many testicular organoid models do a good job in mimicking the cellular architecture of the testicles. Most of them contain all key cell types found in the testicles, including the all-important germ cells. Researchers in Sweden have been able to generate rudimentary testicular organoids from the preserved testicular tissues of a childhood cancer patient.

This is a magnified view of a microwell plate with one testicular organoid in each microwell. Microwells are tiny pyramid-shaped structures that force cells into close proximity and enable organoid formation. The organoids here have just formed and are now ready for subsequent experiments. (Photo by Anja Elsenhans, the Dobrinski Lab, the University of Calgary.)

In addition to mimicking the cellular architecture of a testicle, testicular organoids should also be able to perform the main functions of the testicles: produce sperm. But so far, none of these “mini testicles” can do that.

Although producing sperm is challenging, scientists have not given up, and their hard work is starting to pay off. Making sperm is a complex, multi-step process. Germ cells must go through several stages of development before they turn into sperm. Researchers can now observe some of the early stages of sperm development happening inside human testicular organoids.

Organoids beyond the lab bench

Although this is an exciting time for reproductive research, it can raise ethical questions: Is lab-grown sperm safe, and how and when can it be used? In Canada, the Assisted Human Reproduction Act defines what is allowed when it comes to reproductive technologies. But it does not yet include clear guidelines for lab-grown sperm. As science progresses, the rules will have to evolve, too.

Testicular organoids may not be ready for clinical use just yet, but progress is steady. At the University of Calgary, Dr. Ina Dobrinski has advanced research on testicular organoids for several years.

“Sperm generated from testicular organoids is practically possible and within reach. One of the major obstacles right now is to keep testicular organoids alive long enough to support full spermatogenesis,” Dr. Dobrinski said.

In the near future, childhood cancer survivors may not only survive the cancer, but also be able to look forward to building families.

About the Author:

Anja Elsenhas completed her BSc in Medical Biology in Germany before moving to Canada to join Dr. Ina Dobrinski’s lab at the University of Calgary. As an MSc student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, her research focuses on culturing testicular organoids.

Stay up to date on Anja’s work here.

SWCC members gather in Fredericton to discuss science communication’s changing international landscape – and how to plan for the road ahead

By Elizabeth Benner   •    November 10, 2025

SWCC News

Scientific cooperation has had a significant role in maintaining harmony around the world. Sharing information and knowledge between countries not only encourages collaboration among researchers, but also allows national representatives to resolve conflicting points of view. However, evolving international relationships in the last decade have caused science and its communication to be sidelined in the political discourse. Science communicators are now finding it more and more difficult to inform key audiences, leading to growing unrest among communities.

At the 2025 annual Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC) conference, which took place June 12–13 in Fredericton, SWCC president Rhonda Moore opened the event with a panel of international science journalists to draw attention to this important conversation. The panelists, part of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), spoke on the current state of science communication and media in their home countries — Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States.

“We’ve had some challenges in the last few years, which I think is a trend in many countries worldwide,” said Debbie Ponchner, an award-winning Costa Rican science journalist and editor of Knowable en español. She describes how the government’s relationship with journalists has changed in her country. “They have been very harsh in attacks [on] the press.

Panelist, Debbie Ponchner, speaking to attendees at the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Conference on June 12, 2025 in Frederickton, New Brunswick. (Photo by SWCC)

This conflict not only interferes with journalists’ ability to inform the public, but also erodes their authority and credibility as storytellers. However, it’s not just government administrations that are a cause for concern. Changes in technology and information-sharing has opened up new avenues of communication — some of which may be harder to use than others.

Changing patterns in readership

Over the past few decades, a shift in how readers consume information has destabilized revenue sources, moving the industry from print to digital media. Newer social media platforms have also emphasized quicker, more digestible content formats, like TikTok and Instagram reels. And, thanks to the accessibility of the internet, anyone can post anything.

“As Americans, we are seeing more scenarios where it is difficult to inform our audiences with verified, scientific information,” said Tinsley Davis on what keeps her up at night. Davis is the Executive Director of the US National Association of Science Writers and a leader and advocate for issues in STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — and science journalism.

Davis continued, "people have shifted the way they get information, with more of it coming from social media… but they don’t have a complete understanding of what is verified and what is a [reputable] journalistic source."

To prevent the spread of misinformation, and the social division which comes with it, Ponchner said it’s not enough to simply tell the stories — you need to engage with the public to maintain that connection.

“You have to have to go where the audience is,” she said, in response to an audience question about reaching viewers on social media. “Whoever you want to reach — you have to go there.”

Attendees at the 2025 SWCC conference asking the panelists questions about the evolving challenges in science journalism and communication. (Photo by SWCC)

With all of these obstacles, it’s understandable that science communicators and journalists are worried. Keeping up with the regular demands of the job while also constantly adapting to evolving methods of communication can be a difficult task. But the solution to this problem might be closer than we think.

Considering the future of science communication

As the discussion drew to a close, it was clear that the loss of connection and trust with audiences around the world to tell these critical stories paints a worsening picture for the stability of science. If science communicators can’t stay afloat and maintain scientific credibility in this changing world, it will no longer be clear where the truth lies.

But as Aleida Rueda, a science journalist and science communicator at the Centre for Complexity Sciences in Mexico, emphasizes that science communicators must first recognize that they can’t do this alone.

"If science communicators can’t stay afloat and maintain scientific credibility in this changing world, it will no longer be clear where the truth lies."

“Ten years ago, we didn’t have a network, we didn’t have colleagues to help each other reflect about what we can do together,” Rueda said. “What gives me hope is collaboration,”

As science communicators move into the coming years, one thing is clear — connection is the vital ingredient in getting them through this moment in time. And this isn’t just working with colleagues in research, journalism and communications, but also with those who are able to help us best use social media platforms and those who can get communicators in front of the leaders of nations. Only through acknowledging our need for connection, can communicators successfully connect with their audience.