Kevin Coward

Historically, my research has involved the molecular mechanisms of oocyte activation at fertilisation, with special emphasis on how such mechanisms may impart effect upon male fertility. Activation of the egg at fertilization is a fundamental developmental event and in mammals is associated with a rise in intracellular egg calcium that manifests as a series of characteristic oscillations. Current research strongly suggests that the protein responsible is a sperm-specific phospholipase C with distinctive properties, PLCζ. My team investigates how PLCζ, and other sperm proteins interacting with the oocyte at fertilisation, might be related to certain types of male infertility including oocyte activation deficiency, total fertilisation failure, or recurrent ICSI failure. Current emphasis includes the potential role of oocyte proteins which interact with PLCζ and other sperm proteins in order to induce activation. Other projects are developing nanoparticle- or exosome-mediated systems to deliver engineered protein constructs, or other molecular agents, into mammalian gametes or embryos. Such methods could provide a useful tool for studying the role of sperm-specific proteins during fertilisation and early embryogenesis, and may provide an effective means of delivering targeted clinical agents. My team also collaborates with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on a project which aims to help young people at risk of developing infertility, for example those undergoing aggressive radio/chemotherapy for childhood cancers. My team provides specific research support/initiative for a clinical programme which aims to cryopreserve testicular tissue from young boys prior to aggressive clinical treatments which may influence sperm production. STRATEGIC RESEARCH AREAS: Male infertility, fertilisation, oocyte activation, and PLCzeta; Fertility preservation strategies for prepubertal boys with cancer; Nanoparticle- and exosome-mediated delivery systems for gametes and embryos.

[2025] Rimmer MP. et al, (2025), Fertil Steril, 123, 1017 - 1028 [2025] Rimmer MP. et al, (2025), Hum Reprod, 40, 865 - 875 [2025] Tang S. et al, (2025), In Vitro Model, 4, 1 - 13 [2025] COWARD K. et al, (2025), In Vitro Models [2025] Akhatova A. et al, (2025), Clin Epigenetics, 17