Characterization of PATL2’s role in Human Fertility for the Development of Non-hormonal Contraceptives

Norethindrone, the first oral contraceptive, is noted as one of the most pivotal molecules to be introduced into society. When introduced in 1960, norethindrone caused a societal paradigm shift by allowing for family planning and providing women with more agency over their reproductive system. Unsurprisingly, the women’s liberation movement, rise of feminism, and the increased percentage of women in the workplace have all been attributed to the emergence of the first contraceptive molecule. Contraceptives not only support those who want to avoid pregnancy; in many cases, birth control is prescribed as a method to treat another condition, such as to reduce pain in those with endometriosis, to protect against sexually transmitted infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease, for polycystic ovary syndrome, and to reduce hormonal acne. Birth control also impacts our society, economy, and planet. Despite their significance, in the past 60 years, hormonal contraceptive methods have remained the most effective, impermanent means of birth control despite their extensive side effects. As such, it is of the upmost priority to develop safer and more effective non-hormonal contraceptive methods. The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) intends to address this challenge by embarking on its first research project in reproductive biology as a part of the SGC’s new open science Women’s and Children’s Health Program (WCHP). This initiative will focus on drug discovery for reproductive biology, and the proposed research will contribute to this initiative by identifying and characterizing a protein target for non-hormonal contraceptive agents.

Faculty Supervisor:

Levon Halabelian

Student:

Partner:

Structural Genomics Consortium

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program: