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​Our Grantees

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Jean-Ju Chung, PhD Associate Professor

$150,000 / 2 years

Awarded 2021

Yale University
New Haven, CT

About

Dr. Jean-Ju Chung is an Associate Professor at Yale University, and is an expert in membrane ion channels, specifically the sperm-specific contraceptive target, CatSper. Her work helps to define the subunits of CatSper, its function in capacitation, and effects on fertility, all with the goal of understanding the role of CatSper as a potential contraceptive target.

Our Grant

MCI is supporting Dr. Chung’s work in developing a screening platform that allows the identification of small molecule inhibitors of CatSper. One of the most elusive contraceptive targets, the complexity of CatSper has been a limiting factor in developing contraceptives that target the protein. Dr. Chung’s work mitigates this complexity and is the first step towards developing drugs that can target the infamous CatSper.

A woman with medium-length wavy dark hair wearing a blue blouse with a white collar poses against a plain gray background, looking confidently at the camera.
Jean-Ju Chung, PhD Associate Professor

$150,000 / 2 years

Awarded 2021

Yale University
New Haven, CT

About

Dr. Jean-Ju Chung is an Associate Professor at Yale University, and is an expert in membrane ion channels, specifically the sperm-specific contraceptive target, CatSper. Her work helps to define the subunits of CatSper, its function in capacitation, and effects on fertility, all with the goal of understanding the role of CatSper as a potential contraceptive target.

Our Grant

MCI is supporting Dr. Chung’s work in developing a screening platform that allows the identification of small molecule inhibitors of CatSper. One of the most elusive contraceptive targets, the complexity of CatSper has been a limiting factor in developing contraceptives that target the protein. Dr. Chung’s work mitigates this complexity and is the first step towards developing drugs that can target the infamous CatSper.

MCI Grantee & Fellow Conversations: Jean-Ju Chung, PhD
Dr. Jean-Ju Chung: Unlocking Male Contraception by Targeting CatSper, Sperm's Crucial Ion Channel
CatSper Zig-Zag

Publications

3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum
Yanhe Zhao, Huafeng Wang, Caroline Wiesehoefer, Naman B. Shah, Evan Reetz, Jae Yeon Hwang, Xiaofang Huang, Tse-en Wang, Polina V. Lishko, Karen M. Davies, Gunther Wennemuth, Daniela Nicastro & Jean-Ju Chung

Huang X, Chung JJ. Fertilization and evolution: AI-powered search finds a missing link in sperm-egg interaction. Curr Biol. 2024 Dec 2;34(23):R1169-R1172. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.051. PMID: 39626626.

Hwang JY, Wang H, Clouser G, Oh JN, Finnegan SF, Skakkebaek NE, Chung JJ. CATSPERϵ extracellular domains are essential for sperm calcium channel assembly and activity modulation. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 31:2024.11.18.624146. doi: 10.1101/2024.11.18.624146. PMID: 39605618; PMCID: PMC11601665.

Relovska S, Wang H, Zhang X, Fernández-Tussy P, Jeong KJ, Choi J, Suárez Y, McDonald JG, Fernández-Hernando C, Chung JJ. DHCR24-mediated sterol homeostasis during spermatogenesis is required for sperm mitochondrial sheath formation and impacts male fertility over time. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Feb 11:2023.12.21.572851. doi: 10.1101/2023.12.21.572851. PMID: 38187697; PMCID: PMC10769317.

Hwang JY, Chung JJ. CatSper Calcium Channels: 20 Years On. Physiology (Bethesda). 2023 May 1;38(3):0. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00028.2022. Epub 2022 Dec 13. PMID: 36512352; PMCID: PMC10085559.

Jean-Ju Chung In the News

Meet MCI's Grantees & Fellows!

Our grantees and fellows represent some of the finest minds in the male contraception research community from around the world.

At Male Contraceptive Initiative, we prioritize funding research that aligns with our mission of driving male contraception closer to clinical trials. We strategically allocate our resources to support a diverse range of projects, focusing on non-hormonal and reversible methods that have the potential to meet the needs of a broader population. Our goal is to catalyze progress in this field and bring innovative male birth control options to market.

Discover the innovative research being conducted by our grantees and fellows by clicking on the buttons below:

MCI'S GRANTEES
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