CryoStore at INRAE - Batuhan Kaplan
PhD 10 - Sperm selection through female tract interaction for optimal use of preserved boar semen
I’m Batuhan Kaplan from Istanbul, Turkey. I had my bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Uskudar University in Istanbul, Turkey. During my studies, I participated in a cultural exchange program in the United States for two summers. I conducted my dissertation research in the Microbial Biotechnology Analysis Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Tunc Catal in microbial secondary metabolites.
Following my graduation, I immediately pursued a master's degree in Reproductive Biotechnologies at the University of Teramo, Italy, focusing on both human and animal reproduction. During my master's program, I had an internship at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, Cell Biology and Histology Laboratory, participating in research on COVID-19 cohorts. In the final year of my master's degree, I completed my dissertation under the supervision of Prof. Nicola Bernabò in the Andrology Laboratory and Cell Biology Laboratory, studying sperm interactions with 3D spherical models, which gave me expertise in working with boar sperm.
After having my master's degree, I had an internship at the University of Dundee in Scotland, United Kingdom, where I participated in research on bovine in vitro maturation and embryo culture. This experience improved my teamwork and individual working skills, as well as my expertise in animal in vitro fertilization. Following this internship, I worked as an andrologist in a fertility clinic in Istanbul, Turkey.
In May 2024, I began my PhD at INRAE Centre-Val-de-Loire, France, in the Cellular Interactions and Fertility team within the Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior research unit, collaborating with IMV Technologies, France, under the supervision of Prof. Marie Saint-Dizier and Dr. Lucie Gavin-Plagne for the CryoStore project. The project aims to develop advanced in vitro models of the uterus and oviduct to identify key molecular factors influencing sperm-female interactions, enhancing the cryopreservation of boar sperm. Additionally, creating new extenders for long-term storage and cryopreservation, reduce antibiotic use, and establish a comprehensive sperm preservation process from collection to insemination, ultimately improving fertility rates through coordinated field trials.